Looking Ahead to OGS 2022 Next Week

Two days of thought-provoking educational sessions, a sold-out trade show floor, and a variety of networking opportunities await attendees of next week’s fifth annual Organic Grower Summit (OGS) in Monterey, CA. Presented by Western Growers and Organic Produce Network, OGS 2022 will bring together organic growers and supply chain and service companies, providing them with information and education related to the continued growth, opportunities, and challenges in the production of organic fresh food.

OGS 2022 will be held November 30–December 1 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, CA and among the educational sessions planned for OGS are:

Other ed sessions will feature an overview of how organic fresh produce sales at retail are changing in an era of inflation and the increasing role of biological tools in organic crop production.

The sold-out OGS trade show floor will feature nearly 70 exhibitors, including soil amendment, ag tech, food safety, packaging, and equipment manufacturers, who will have the opportunity to connect with organic field production staff, supply chain managers, pest management advisors, and food safety experts.

As part of this year’s event, OGS will honor longtime organic grower Jeff Huckaby, President and CEO of Grimmway Farms, as the recipient of the fifth annual Grower of the Year award. Sponsored by AGCO, the Grower of the Year award will be presented to Huckaby based on his ongoing commitment and dedication to excellence in organic production, organic industry leadership, and innovation.

Jeff Huckaby, President and CEO, Grimmway Farms

In addition to the annual Grower of the Year award, the other keynote presentation at OGS 2022 will be Grower Roundtable: The State of Organic Growing, moderated by Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers. Panelists for the keynote roundtable include Brie Reiter Smith, VP of Product Leadership for Driscoll’s; Michael DuPuis, Quality Assurance and Public Relations Coordinator for Divine Flavor; and Tom Nunes V, President of The Nunes Company. Featuring candid commentary, the thought-provoking keynote presentation will explore the perspectives of these three organic produce industry leaders on hot-button topics such as supply chain issues, inflation, labor, new innovations, and technologies.

"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."