[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E442-E443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF WESTERN GROWERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2026

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, 
Representative David G. Valadao, Representative John Garamendi, 
Representative Mike Thompson, Representative Vince Fong, Representative 
Salud Carbajal, Representative Dan Newhouse, Representative Adam Gray, 
Representative Zoe Lofgren, Representative, Josh Harder, Representative 
Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Representative Gabe Evans, Representative Ken 
Calvert, Representative Jeff Hurd, Representative Julia Brownley, 
Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D., Representative Adelita S. Grijalva, and 
Representative Jimmy Panetta 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 
officials and agencies and navigate policies impacting the day-to-day 
farming operations of its members across our respective states.
  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. The legislative 
success of Western Growers on behalf of the agriculture industry can be 
attributed to the persistence and tenacity of its team of 
professionals. 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 a further 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-

[[Page E443]]

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, we ask our colleagues to join us 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 Nation's population.

                          ____________________