Board Chair Welcome Letter
Having been supporters of Western Growers for nearly 25 years, it’s an incredible honor for Lisa and me to host the 98th Annual Meeting this year in Scottsdale.
For nearly 100 years, Western Growers has been instrumental in addressing the key issues important to growers in California and Arizona – and, more recently, in Colorado and New Mexico. It’s heartening to know that each year, we gather in mass to strengthen our bonds, exchange our ideas and build the momentum needed to move our industry forward. From overregulation to labor to water, our challenges are many. But one constant has always remained, and that’s the unwavering support provided by Western Growers and our industry allies and partners.
Please join Lisa and me as we come together again to unite our voices and drive change for agriculture. We are certain you all will have a productive and fun-filled time.
Stuart and Lisa Woolf
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
Set against the backdrop of Scottsdale's picturesque desert landscape, the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa is a lavish retreat boasting attentive service, deluxe amenities, heated outdoor pools, garden terraces and desert trails in the Sonoran Desert. The upscale accommodations feature private patios, world-class golf courses and a rejuvenating spa.
2024 Award of Honor Recipient
Western Growers will bestow The Growers Company President and CEO Sonny Rodriguez with the 2024 Award of Honor at the organization’s 98th Annual Meeting in November. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community.
The Growers Company has offered custom produce harvesting since 1950 and is a third-generation family business. It is based in Yuma, Arizona, with offices in California; the company harvests lettuce, mix lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli and many other commodities.
Rodriguez joined the company in 1975. Under his leadership, The Growers Company thrived on its mission to serve customers’ needs while providing fair, equitable and opportunistic employment for all of their workers.
Rodriguez was first elected to the Western Growers Board of Directors in 1998.
Rodriguez is a graduate of Project CENTRL Arizona Leadership Program’s Class XII and served on the Agricultural Employment Relations Board from 1995 to 2005. He was active in the Yuma Vegetable Shippers Association for 15 years.
In addition, Rodriguez is one of the founders of Yuma Catholic High School. He served on the Diocese of Tucson Charity and Ministry Board for six years, was chairman of the St. Francis Parish Board for three years and Hospice of Yuma Board for two years of his six-year term.
