WG in Washington

WG’s Chairman Steve Patricio of Westside Produce, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and WG’s President and CEO Tom Nassif.

I visited with Tom Nassif yesterday about Western Growers' presence in Washington. Nassif was in D.C. - with the the rest of the WG board - earlier this week. Nassif said the board convened in Washington to make the rounds on Capitol Hill talking about the big three issues of immigration, food safety and the farm bill. A cordial and extended discussion with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns was a part of the agenda, as noted by the photo supplied above by WG. Nassif says WG hopes to have the association's new Washington position filled by the end of July, and Nassif himself had interviewed several candidates this week. I'm developing coverage on the interview, but I will note here that Nassif is very determined about what California and Arizona growers want and need out of the farm bill.