(MONTEREY, CA—October 25, 2023) Leadership from three of the nation’s most progressive organic growing operations have been confirmed as panelists for the second of two keynote presentations at the upcoming Organic Grower Summit (OGS) 2023 presented by Western Growers and OPN.
“Grower Roundtable: The State of Organic Growing” will feature panelists Joe Pezzini, Senior Director of Ag Operations for Taylor Farms; Nishan Moutafian, Vice President of Production for Driscoll’s; and Briana Giampaoli, Organic Category Manager for Live Oak Farms. The session will be moderated by Walt Duflock, Senior Vice President of Innovation for Western Growers.
Featuring candid commentary, the thought-provoking keynote presentation will explore how these three leaders in organic production are dealing with hot-button topics including supply chain issues, inflation, labor, sustainability, new innovations, and technologies.
“While consumption of organic fresh produce continues to climb, domestic growers face an unprecedented array of regulatory and marketplace challenges that threaten future growth,” Duflock said. “The leaders on this panel will share valuable insight into the state of the organic industry and strategies for turning obstacles into opportunities.”
The sixth annual OGS is designed to provide information vital to organic growers and producers, including an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the production of organic fresh food. The newly announced keynote presentation is part of an extensive educational program designed to inform and engage organic producers, their service providers, and supply chain partners.
The announcement of the Grower Roundtable highlights a robust educational program for OGS 2023, which includes eight educational sessions and a pair of keynote presentations. In the other keynote presentation, the annual Grower of the Year award will be awarded to this year’s recipient, Rod Braga, President and CEO of Braga Fresh.
The other educational sessions at OGS 2023 include:
- SOE Deadline Looms—Are You Ready?
- Understanding Evolving Production Challenges for Organic Growers
- Regenerative—What Does it Mean for Organic?
- Unlocking the Value of AI on the Digital Farming Journey
- Meet the Ag Sharks
- Roadmap to a Sustainable Pest Management Future for Organics
- Challenges of Organic Seed Production
- How Organic Growers Are Using Ag Tech: Obstacles & Opportunities
OGS 2023 will be held November 29-30 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California. The sixth annual Organic Grower Summit is designed to provide information vital to organic growers and producers, including an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the production of organic fresh food.
“In partnership with Western Growers, this year’s OGS will provide up-to-date resources and information to support the continued success of organic producers, with an emphasis on the changing organic production landscape as well as the role of ag technology,” said Matt Seeley, Co-founder and CEO of Organic Produce Network. “From seed to soil to harvest, our goal is to present the most relevant and timely information on the most important subjects and issues facing organic production.”
The sold-out OGS trade show floor will feature soil amendment, ag tech, food safety, packaging, and equipment exhibitors who will have the opportunity to connect with organic field production staff, supply chain managers, pest management advisors, and food safety experts. OGS 2023 general registration is currently open.
For more information on the sixth annual OGS, please visit www.organicgrowersummit.com.
About Organic Produce Network:
OPN is a marketing organization serving as the go-to resource for the organic fresh produce industry. The company’s mission is to inform and educate through a strong digital presence with an emphasis on original content and complemented by engaging live events that bring together various components of the organic food community. The OPN audience includes organic producers, handlers, distributors, processors, wholesalers, foodservice operators, and retailers.
About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts, including nearly half of America’s fresh organic produce. Some members also farm throughout the US and in other countries, so people have year-round access to nutritious food. For generations, we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.
