As part of its quarterly board meeting, this week the Western Growers Board of Directors met with state leadership in Arizona to advocate for the specialty crop industry.

Arizona Department of Agriculture Director Paul Brierley spoke to the group as part of the Opening Luncheon of the Phoenix board meeting; he updated the group on the Arizona’s response to avian flu, pest pressures and water resource discussions.

The Board then went to the State Capitol in Phoenix, where they were officially recognized by the Legislature for their service to the industry by Sen. Brian Fernandez and Rep. Gail Griffin. The group met with Sen. Warren Petersen, President of the Arizona Senate; Sen. Priya Sundareshan, Senate Minority Leader; and Sen. Tim Dunn, Vice-Chair of Senate Natural Resources committee.

At the Board dinner on March 19, Bill Mundell, the Deputy Attorney General of Arizona, provided an update on recent lawsuits filed by the state, including against Fondomonte for allegedly violating the state’s public nuisance law by pumping excessive amounts of groundwater, as well as against the federal government for firing employees and canceling grants.