Taylor Lauson

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

This isn't just about changing a package. We have packaging that is necessary to keep fresh food safe and marketable, so growers can face very high fees for materials they don't currently have a practical way to replace.

SB 54 should not begin collecting billions of dollars from businesses until the Legislature understands how those costs will affect the price of everyday goods—especially food. That’s why California legislators need to pause SB 54 and fix the regulation before implementation moves further.

Farmers are already doing their part to feed our communities, and they need regulations that support that work, not make it harder.

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia @Dave_Puglia joined U.S. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling @Sonderling47 in New Mexico to hear directly from agricultural employers about workforce needs, labor challenges and the future of farming.

Agriculture is at the heart of New Mexico’s economy, and hearing directly from farmers is critical to understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

We appreciate the opportunity to help showcase the people and businesses working every day to keep American agriculture strong and producing the food we rely on.

Thank you to the Department of Labor @USDOL for making agriculture part of the conversation.

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

The Q3 2026 digital issue of the Western Grower & Shipper magazine is available for online viewing.

In this issue, we celebrate California Secretary of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Karen Ross as she reflects on 16 years of leadership, resilience and service to the state’s agricultural community.

Find the full digital edition of the issue here: https://t.co/ODL9jtFNTi

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Without workers, there’s no harvest. That's why H-2A labor is essential.

The program gives farmers access to a legal, temporary workforce when domestic workers aren't available, helping ensure crops can be consistently planted, cared for and harvested. In turn, that helps keep American farms growing and our food supply strong. 🌱

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Food safety has been a major topic of discussion recently, so we’re revisiting an episode of Voices of the Valley that offers insights from two experts on food safety, fresh produce and the choices they make for their own families.

In this episode, Western Growers’ Sonia Salas and @JoelleMosso Joelle Mosso share their perspectives on food safety and what the future holds for food safety in fresh produce.

Listen to the full episode: https://t.co/Jw0qE1Zrvk

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Farmworkers play an essential role in bringing fresh fruits and vegetables from the field to our tables. Their hard work, dedication and expertise help nourish our communities every day.

On Farmworker Appreciation Day, we recognize and thank the people who help make it all possible. 🍎🍓

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Fresh produce is an essential part of a healthy diet, and America’s farmers are committed to growing it safely.🍓🍎

Food safety is personal. From research and training to testing, sanitation and traceability, the work to protect consumers never stops.

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Thank you, Congressman @RepDavidValadao, for cosponsoring the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act (SAWA). Your leadership on modernizing the H-2A program and advancing practical workforce solutions helps strengthen American agriculture and support the farmers who feed our communities. We appreciate your commitment to our industry.

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

In this episode of Voices of the Valley, Western Growers' Taylor Lauson sits down with Michelle Paul, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, to break down one of the most important and misunderstood topics in agriculture: water.

From where California's water comes from and how it reaches farms, to the technologies helping growers use it more efficiently, Michelle explains the complex systems that keep fresh food on our tables. Together, they discuss common misconceptions about agricultural water use, the challenges of managing water in the West and why reliable water infrastructure is essential to the future of farming and our food supply.

As Michelle reminds listeners throughout the episode, "Food grows where water flows."

Listen to the full episode here: https://t.co/RIQthjAGEq

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Industry leaders convened in Washington, DC today and joined @CongressmanGT Congressman GT Thompson to announce the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (SAWA) to modernize the H-2A visa program in a way that works for farmers.

Wage rules are one of the most significant cost pressures farm employers face. As Western Growers President & CEO @Dave_Puglia Dave Puglia stated in today’s press conference, this bill “streamlines the program, reduces unnecessary administrative burdens and builds on recent administrative reforms by bringing greater certainty to wage rules.”

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

Harvesting romaine isn't slow work. Some crews can cut up to six heads per minute. That's more than 3,000 in a single day. 🥬

That's why Empire Farm Labor Contractor invests in cut-resistant gloves and tools that reduce heavy lifting and repetitive motion, helping keep crews safe while harvesting your produce.

Because protecting the people who grow our food matters just as much as the food on our plates. 🚜💚

#Farmworkers #Harvesting #FreshProduce #CaliforniaAgriculture #WesternGrowers

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

You know where your food comes from. But do you know how it's grown?

Technology is transforming the way food is produced, from real-time field monitoring to smarter resource management. Hear how @taproduce and IntelliCulture are helping growers work more efficiently, strengthen sustainability efforts and deliver affordable food from farm to table.

🌱🚜📱

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

From H-2A wage rules to state regulations, the produce industry says escalating labor costs are eating into grower profits and reshaping the future of specialty crop farming. @thepacker

Jason Resnick @JasonEResnick, SVP and General Counsel for Western Growers: "It’s skilled work. It’s essential work. But policy has to be grounded in the economics of fresh produce."

https://t.co/pIpf3n6ycy

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

How do farmers grow food while making the most of every drop of water?

Western Growers recently toured the Salinas Valley with Cultivate California to learn how growers are using technology, innovation and water recycling to improve water efficiency while maintaining a reliable food supply.

Thank you to the farmers, water leaders and influencers who joined us and offered a firsthand look at agricultural water stewardship in action.

#Sustainability #WaterUse #Farming #FoodtoTable #WesternGrowers

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

When food prices rise, the conversation usually focuses on inflation, fuel or supply chains.

But there's another factor that's often overlooked: the growing cost of compliance.

From labor and environmental rules to food safety requirements, California farmers face an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. In this installment of our series, we take a closer look at labor regulations and their impact on the cost of growing food.

#Farming #FoodPrices #Groceries #Agriculture #WesternGrowers

[Western Growers @WesternGrowers]

What did harvesting lettuce look like more than 50 years ago?

As part of our #100YearAnniversary celebration, we’re opening the archives to share photos and footage from agriculture’s past. Step back to the early 1970s and see how growers harvested lettuce—and the techniques they used to keep it fresh and pristine from the field to shipment.

#WesternGrowers
#AgHistory
#LettuceHarvest
#thenandnow

[NBC News @NBCNews]

President Biden restores environmental protections to major national monuments in Utah and New England that had been stripped by the Trump admin. https://t.co/ANrUy6sylp

[Maricopa County @maricopacounty]

BREAKING: The #azaudit draft report from Cyber Ninjas confirms the county’s canvass of the 2020 General Election was accurate and the candidates certified as the winners did, in fact, win.

[ABC News @ABC]

The lone abortion clinic in Mississippi is warning the Supreme Court that any move to undermine a half century of legal precedent affirming abortion rights would diminish the court's credibility and lead to a national "upheaval." https://t.co/OTydPh8dro

[Ifrah Magan, PhD @DrIfrahMagan]

As a former refugee, I urge y'all to rethink sharing images of people in their most difficult moments. Yes, we need to document and share stories, but there is a big difference between raising awareness and the commodification of human suffering.