January 15, 2025

2024 Annual Meeting Highlights

The 98th Western Growers Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Arizona attracted a record number of attendees, with more than 500 of the specialty crop industry’s top business leaders participating in dynamic networking events, educational breakout sessions, thought-provoking keynote speakers and Wild West-themed parties amid the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

In recognition of the extraordinary role our record number of sponsors played in supporting the Annual Meeting, every level of sponsor received extensive brand recognition throughout the event, including name or logo placement on signage and in the conference guide and mobile app. In addition, Diamond Sponsors were recognized at each event, and individual event sponsors received mentions in front of their desired key targeted audiences.

The 2024 Annual Meeting began the evening of Sunday, Nov. 3 with a two-hour Welcome Reception at the North Garden, where Western Growers members, industry partners – and Hit Man, the resort’s hawk – mingled and networked at sunset. Even a quick rain shower couldn’t dampen attendee spirits!

Monday, Nov. 4, the first full day of the Annual Meeting, featured Laura Ling as the Kickoff Keynote. Laura, an award-winning journalist, author and media executive, spoke movingly of the 140 days she spent in captivity in North Korea when she and a colleague were detained while reporting on the trafficking of women along the country’s border with China.

The PAC Lunch focused on a conversation between Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia and The Free
Press Founder and Editor Bari Weiss. Bari, a winner of the L.A. Press Club’s 2021 Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism, spoke on the current state of American journalism, where contrarian voices are deemed unpalatable and shunted aside.

The business portion of Monday concluded with a Featured Session on Sustainable Packaging, hosted and moderated by Western Growers Senior Vice President, Science Dr. De Ann Davis and Western Growers Vice President, Federal Government Affairs Dennis Nuxoll. Panelists included Jenet De Costa, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Driscoll’s; Kevin Kelly, CEO, Emerald Packaging; Ron Lemaire, President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association; and Dave Podesta, Director of Quality Assurance, Sysco. The panel offered a realistic, science-based look at the usage of plastics in the modern food supply chain and spoke about the regulatory pressures that stand to impact the industry.

Monday night’s parties began with the VIP Sponsor Reception in the North Garden, where Stuart Woolf, Chair of the Western Growers Board of Directors, recognized each sponsor in the Diamond, Platinum and Gold tiers and thanked them for their invaluable support. Sponsors in attendance had the opportunity to network and form key industry relationships with the Western Growers Board of Directors.

Attendees wrapped up the night by heading up to the resort’s Mummy Mountain Old West town for the rip-roarin’ Party with the Partners. Partygoers at the Boots and Roots Hoedown were greeted by Sophie the Beer Burro and then entertained by pig races, a dress-up photo booth and live music. BBQ and specialty cocktails were available until late into the night!

Tuesday, Nov. 5 began with our second invite-only sponsor event, the Diamond Breakfast, where Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia honored company representatives from our top level of sponsorship: Bayer, Farm Credit, John Deere, Nutrien Ag Solutions and RDO Equipment. Each Diamond Sponsor gave a brief presentation in front of the Western Growers Board of Directors to highlight the valuable work they do to advance the agriculture industry.

Our second Featured Session of the Annual Meeting, Navigating the Post-Chevron Landscape: Expert Insights on Loper Bright and the Future of the Administrative State in Agriculture, gave attendees an overview of recent actions by the U.S. Supreme Court and how they might impact the regulatory landscape. Moderated by Western Growers Senior Vice President and General Counsel Jason Resnick, panelists included Lynn Jacquez, Of Counsel, JPH Law Firm; Daniel Jarcho, Partner, Alston & Bird and Damien Schiff, Senior Attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, who provided a peek into the crystal ball of the good – and bad – outcomes that may result from the ruling.

During the Chair’s Lunch and Keynote Western Growers Chair Stuart Woolf took the reins to thank the assembled Western Growers members, the Board of Directors, sponsors and industry VIPs for their dedication to advancing the specialty crop industry. After the remarks and luncheon, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia conducted a Q&A with Amy Trask, former CEO of the Oakland Raiders and the first female team CEO in NFL history. The so-called “Princess of Darkness” regaled listeners with tales from inside the NFL owner meetings and of working with Raiders Owner and Hall of Famer Al Davis. (No 49er fans were harmed during this event.)

Tuesday evening’s activities began with the Award of Honor Reception on the Sonoran Terrace, where attendees networked and mingled over cocktails – and got a sneak peek meet and greet with the evening’s entertainment, mentalist Oz Pearlman. The Award of Honor Dinner Gala focused on the many achievements of Arizona’s own, The Growers Company President Sonny Rodriguez, who became the first non-grower to ever receive Western Growers’ highest honor. After a series of emotional tributes to Sonny, Oz took the stage and proceeded to make everyone in the room question what they thought they knew about…well, everything. (How did Oz know Sonny’s favorite drink?)

After the Award of Honor festivities ended, attendees ended the night at the Election Watch Party, where cocktails, fries and milkshakes were on offer for those celebrating (or wanting to drown their sorrows) at the results shown live on TVs throughout the space.

Annual Meeting activities wrapped up on Wednesday, Nov. 6 with the high-spirited Western Growers Cup Golf Tournament & Lunch at the Camelback Golf Course and the second annual surprisingly competitive Western Growers Pickleball Classic at the JW Marriott Camelback Tennis Courts.

Western Growers prides itself on providing the premier venue for growers and industry partners to connect and celebrate the enduring legacy of the fresh produce industry. We will continue to drive enhanced value for our members and sponsors next year at the Western Growers 99th Annual Meeting, to be held Nov. 9-12, 2025 at the Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, Calif.