“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,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “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 at Boston College. He served as chairman of the California League of Food Processors, the Almond Board of California and the U.C. 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. Woolf and his wife, Lisa, have been married since 1984 and have five children.
Outgoing Western Growers Chair Albert Keck passed the gavel to Woolf during the Western Growers 2023 Annual Meeting in Kauai. “My team and I are profoundly grateful to Albert Keck for going all-in during his two-year term as chair,” Puglia said. “We are better today for Albert’s thoughtful approach to protecting and strengthening America’s fresh produce growers in the face of daunting economic and regulatory pressures.”
Besides Woolf, the other officers of the association are Vice Chair Rob Yraceburu, president of Wonderful Orchards; Treasurer Neill Callis, general manager of Turlock Fruit Co.; Executive Secretary Don Cameron, vice president and general manager of Terranova Ranch; and Puglia. Rounding out the Western Growers executive committee are Past Chair Keck and executive committee members at large Ryan Talley of Talley Farms and Catherine Fanucchi of Tri-Fanucchi Farms.
