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Organic Grower Summit 2025: Celebrating groundbreaking innovations and successes in organic farming

The Organic Grower Summit 2025 concluded its two-day event at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, leaving attendees inspired by new advancements, valuable networking opportunities and a shared vision for the future of organic agriculture. The summit brought together industry leaders, growers and innovators from 30 U.S. states to explore the latest trends and technologies shaping the organic farming landscape.

Expert speakers share insights

The event opened with a keynote from Sylvia Tawse, founder and chief fresh officer of the Fresh Ideas Group. Her address, “Unsung Heroes in Organic — How to Apply Their Legacies to Your Organic Success,” highlighted the challenges and triumphs that have shaped the $71 billion organic industry.

Wednesday featured a dozen seminars addressing key topics, including labor shortages, sustainability and the integration of advanced technologies in organic production. The summit closed with a data-focused keynote by Walt Duflock, senior vice president of technology at Western Growers, who outlined future-focused solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Industry-leading innovations take center stage

The AgTech Networking Presentations and Reception on Dec. 3 spotlighted leading exhibitors, including Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness, Mahindra Ag North America, Carbon Robotics, Niqo Robotics, and Titan and Goodyear Farm Tires. Attendees explored new developments in AI, robotics, sustainable farming practices and equipment technology.

A live demonstration by the CDFA California Dog Teams, presented by Western Growers, drew significant interest as attendees learned about their role in agricultural safety and compliance.

Recognizing excellence in organic farming

Arnott Duncan, founder of Duncan Family Farms, was named the 2025 Grower of the Year, an award sponsored by John Deere. Duncan’s three-decade evolution from small-scale agritourism to overseeing 3,850 acres of organic farmland across three states was highlighted for its focus on compost-based soil health, water conservation and community impact. The farm donates more than 10,000 pounds of fresh organic produce weekly to food banks and is recognized for pioneering sustainable practices.

New initiatives and enhanced accessibility

OGS 2025 introduced several features to enhance the attendee experience:

  • Taylor Farms Scholarship Program: Students from California Polytechnic State University and California State University, Monterey Bay, attended the summit through the program, gaining industry exposure and networking opportunities.
  • Live Spanish translation: Powered by Wordly AI, the translation service supported Spanish-speaking attendees during keynotes and seminars. Live captioning was also provided for attendees needing additional accessibility.
  • Convenience enhancements: Farm Credit supplied charging stations, Nunhems/BASF sponsored coffee stations, California Organic Fertilizer provided eco-friendly bags and Darling Ingredients/Nature Safe Fertilizers supplied lanyards.

Looking ahead

Produced by Farm Progress and presented by the Western Growers Association, the Organic Grower Summit reaffirmed its position as a premier gathering for organic growers and suppliers. The summit team thanked sponsors including John Deere, Organic Grower Magazine, Ag Life Media, True Organic Products and Engelbert Strauss Inc. for their support.

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