U.S. producer group Western Growers (WGA) has officially unveiled its new headquarters in Irvine, California, bringing a series of offices all under one roof.

WGA opened the new HQ in a private ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Tuesday, held in conjunction with the group's quarterly board meeting in Newport Beach.

"With our board members in town, this was an opportunity to showcase our new, state-of-the-art offices and officially announce our new location," said WGA president Tom Nassif.

"As our members face an ever-more challenging business climate, Western Growers has created new services and products to help them remain competitive and grow, and that has allowed us to grow beyond the headquarters and other offices we occupied since 1980."

Prior to the relocation, most employees of Western Growers’ 12 companies and business divisions were spread amongst four different locations in Irvine, limiting the daily interactions that can add to efficiencies and boost morale.

“Consolidation to an 80,000-square-foot standalone three-story building allows us to bring all our Orange County-based employees under one roof and still gives us the opportunity to expand,” Nassif said.

Founded in 1926 as Western Growers Protective Association in California’s Imperial Valley, Western Growers has a storied tradition.

The group's 90 years of history have been memorialized in the decorations and wall displays, which are designed to showcase former chairmen, past presidents and important events that have shaped the organization since its inception.

While the new building pays homage to the past, it also paves an expectant path for the future, providing employees with state-of-the-art capabilities.

"We have been able to capture our rich heritage and seamlessly blend it into a technologically-enhanced, contemporary facility that symbolizes the advancement of our organization and industry into an era of innovation and adaptability," Nassif said.

Western Growers’ original mission was to fight for fair transportation rates for the agricultural industry. But over the years, its mission adapted to reflect the changing needs of the industry. Western Growers has become a powerful voice for fresh fruit, vegetable and tree nut growers in Arizona, California and Colorado at the state and federal levels.

Headline photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com