Western Growers Celebrates 95th Anniversary: Adaptation Key to Longevity
I t has long been told that Western Growers began its life as the Western Growers Protective Association on March 9, 1926, to represent the interests of shippers of western produce before the Interstate Commerce Commission.
help these grower-shippers focus on their core business of farming, ranging from union negotiations to dispute resolution to insurance services to legal representation. It has collectively established cutting-edge research on crop production, consumer marketing and high-tech farming. Western Growers history mirrors the changes growers have had to make over the years and is a testament to the resiliency of the western produce industry. The association’s significant milestones are too numerous to list—and in fact, the list covers a wall at WG headquarters in Irvine, Calif. On these two pages, we list a number of those highlights emblematic of the adaptability of Western Growers and its members.
The ICC was created in 1887 by the U.S. Congress to regulate railroad carriers and the rates they charge. But there were constant disagreements over rates, weights, icing charges and a host of other issues involving shipping product from source to market. Shippers determined that they had to unite for equal representation. Many ad hoc groups were formed before WGPA was established to offer a powerful and united voice. While this specific transportation issue was the catalyst for the formation of the association, WGPA steadily moved into new arenas, establishing a non-stop list of programs and services to benefit its membership. These services and programs have been added and dropped over the years, reflecting the needs of a dynamic industry and a changing universe. Over the years, Western Growers has been a consistent voice for western producers in the legislative halls of Washington D.C. as well as in the state governments in which its members farm. It has added services to
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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021
Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
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