During Western Growers’ annual fly-in to Washington, D.C. this week, members of the Board of Directors met with lawmakers and administration officials to discuss the top issues impacting agriculture.
As part of the visit, Rep. Jim Costa formally recognized Western Growers on the floor of Congress and presented a copy of the Congressional Record (CR) recognizing our 100th anniversary, which was accepted by President and CEO Dave Puglia and the WG Board of Directors.
The recognition highlighted Western Growers’ century of advocacy on behalf of growers across the West, as well as the organization’s continued work advancing and advocating for agriculture.
The annual fly-in brings grower leaders directly to Washington to engage with policymakers on issues affecting the fresh produce industry, reinforcing the importance of agriculture’s voice in federal policy discussions.
Read the full text of the CR below:
HONORING THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF WESTERN GROWERS
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 100th anniversary of Western Growers for a century of commitment to western agriculture through advocacy and support, resulting in stronger unification and resilience for the industry that provides fresh fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts for our nation.
Western Growers was founded on March 6, 1926, with the goal to manage and challenge mounting regulatory and transportation pressures. This kind of advocacy set a precedent of adaptive and robust support designed to keep its members competitive and profitable. For 100 years, Western Growers has been a steadfast voice for agriculture in state and national political arenas¬—championing policies that protect and advance the fresh produce industry.
To bolster its commitment to political alignment and advocacy, Western Growers established a presence in key political centers, opening offices in: Sacramento, California in 1980; Phoenix, Arizona in 1985; and Washington, D.C. in 2007. These offices have enabled Western Growers to develop valuable relationships with state and federal entities and navigate policies impacting the day-to-day farming operations of its members.
By maintaining a constant presence where decisions are made, the organization has positioned itself as both a trusted advisor and a formidable advocate for the agricultural community. Through its persistence, Western Growers can be attributed to years of legislative successes for its industry. This includes expanding the specialty crop share within the Farm Bill, securing millions of dollars toward Western water infrastructure, leading negotiations for agricultural workforce reform, and elevating the need for improved federal pesticide and food safety policies to better account for fresh produce realities.
The century mark is further a testament to a commitment to longevity, and decades of looking ahead to foresee and mitigate challenges. Western Growers has repeatedly strived to match the resiliency and adaptability demonstrated by the agricultural stewards it represents by expanding its expertise and support throughout the organization. The in-house Science and Innovation programs are particular points of pride as they focus on driving practical, scalable solutions in ag technology, sustainability, crop protection science, and food safety. Elsewhere, the H-2A services program provides critical support to growers navigating the complexities of agricultural labor and workforce management. Generations of producers also benefit from Western Growers’ exceptional member services through its health and commercial insurance solutions, retirement security, legal counsel, employee training resources and more.
Growth has not been limited to programs alone. In the past decade, Western Growers expanded its geographic reach by bringing Colorado and New Mexico into its membership footprint, further strengthening its influence across the western United States. This expansion reflects a vision of unifying diverse agricultural regions under a shared mission: advancing the viability and competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop producers.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Western Growers for 100 years of unwavering support for western agriculture and its goal to champion and strengthen an irreplaceable and vital industry that supplies fresh and healthy food to our population.