Western Growers names Fresno grower new chair

The president and CEO of a Fresno, California-based grower is the new chair of the Western Growers board of directors. Stuart Woolf will serve a two-year term.

Woolf heads Woolf Farming & Processing, which grows almonds, pistachios, tomatoes, grapes, onions and garlic among other conventional and organic row crops. He was first elected to the Western Growers Board in 2015, according to a news release.

“Western Growers is set up to meet the needs of the fresh produce industry in the Western U.S. by focusing on issues like immigration, labor and water rights,” Woolf said in the release. “We need a good, strong, trusted voice. As chair, I know that Western Growers will continue to be that voice for issues that impact all of agriculture.”

Woolf Farming & Processing is a family-owned operation focused on the production and processing of agricultural commodities. Woolf was involved with the establishment of two related entities: Harris Woolf California Almonds and Los Gatos Tomato Products.

“Resilience and adaptability are among the many attributes that define our industry. Stuart Woolf perfectly embodies those characteristics, bolstered by a knack for pragmatic collaboration in even the toughest situations,” Western Growers president and CEO Dave Puglia said in the release. “I am excited to work with him even more closely as he takes the chair’s gavel.”

Woolf received a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from Boston College. He has served as chair of the California League of Food Processors, the Almond Board of California and the UC President’s Commission of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He currently serves on the board of the California Chamber of Commerce and the newly formed California Agave Council.

Other Western Growers officers are: vice chair Rob Yraceburu, president of Wonderful Orchards; treasurer Neill Callis, general manager, Turlock Fruit Co.; executive secretary, Don Cameron, vice president and general manager of Terranova Ranch; and Puglia. Rounding out the executive committee are past chair Albert Keck and at-large members Ryan Talley of Talley Farms and Catherine Fanucchi of Tri-Fanucchi Farms.