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August 28, 2026
Salinas, Calif.

Western Growers & Reservoir: Field Demo Days

Experience agricultural technology where it matters most — in the field.

Join a select group of growers for a private field demonstration of commercially available solutions operating under real-world conditions. By showcasing treatments that have already been applied, attendees can observe field results firsthand, ask questions directly with technology providers and evaluate solutions designed to address today's production challenges.  

Please note: Attendance is intentionally limited to maintain a focused, grower-only experience. Requests to attend will be reviewed, and selected growers will receive a confirmation email with event details.
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Event Details

Western Growers and Reservoir are hosting a grower-only field demonstration showcasing commercially available agricultural technologies in real-world conditions. This hands-on experience is designed to help growers evaluate proven solutions, observe post-treatment field results and engage directly with the companies behind the technology in a small, grower-focused setting.

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. PT
Location: Reservoir Farms, Salinas, Calif.

Attendance is complimentary for selected growers. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Agenda

9:00 a.m. - Registration, breakfast and networking

9:30 a.m. - Welcome remarks from Western Growers and Reservoir

9:45 a.m. - Field demonstrations begin. Each participating company will demonstrate its technology and answer questions.

11:30am - Lunch and networking

Featured Speakers
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Ben Palone
Western Growers
Senior Commercialization Director
 
 
Danny Bernstein crop
 
Danny Bernstein 
Reservoir
CEO & Managing Partner
 
Arelne Haffa
Dr. Arlene Haffa
Professor, Department of Biology & Chemistry
CSU Monterey Bay
Dr. Arlene Haffa is a Professor in the Department of Biology & Chemistry at CSU Monterey Bay. She earned her doctorate at Arizona State University where she used laser physics to study electron transfer in photosynthetic bacteria. Her postdoctoral studies were done at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in Moss Landing. She taught in the chemistry department at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for four years before joining the faculty at CSU Monterey Bay in 2011.
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Cole Smith
Staff Research Associate
University of California, Davis and Agriculture and Natural Resources
Cole is a Staff Research Associate with University of California, Davis and Agriculture and Natural Resources. His primary research area is sustainable nutrient management and soil fertility. His Ph.D. research has focused on the use of organic amendments within vegetable cropping agroecosystems of the California’s central coast, aiming to quantifying tradeoffs between conservation management and nitrogen fertilizer use. Cole holds a master’s degree from UC Davis in Soil Science & Biogeochemistry and has been with the UC system for 8 years implementing extension-based outreach and education programs to divert organic waste from landfills, improve soil health and promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
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Steve Brazeel
CEO 
Elevated Foods

In 2000, Steve Brazeel founded SunTerra Produce, which has grown from a one-person produce brokerage firm into an industry-leading, full-service platform handling sales, marketing, farming, food safety, harvesting, storage, and distribution activities for specialty crop producers on over 10,000 acres throughout the US and Mexico. Born out of SunTerra‘s participation in the USDA’s ground-breaking Farmers to Families Food Box program, Project FoodBox was launched in 2020. Since the program’s inception, the SunTerra/Project FoodBox teams have delivered over 85 Million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to communities in need through its network of food banks, community organizations, and health care plans.

Elevated Foods, founded by Mr. Brazeel in 2020, was recently awarded a $20M grant as part of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program. Elevated was formed to bring more profit to farmers by incentivizing the adoption of new technologies & practices and providing technical support to help make them more efficient and resilient.

Additional participating companies and presenters will be announced.

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Featuring Karen Ross
Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture

KAREN ROSS was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture on January 9, 2019, by Governor Gavin Newsom. 

In re-appointing Secretary Ross, Governor Newsom cited her unmatched leadership experience in agricultural issues nationally, internationally and in California, in areas including environmental stewardship, climate change adaptation and trade. 

Secretary Ross was initially appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2011.

For more information on Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology please contact innovation@wga.com.

Copyright © 2026, Western Growers

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Jason Resnick
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Western Growers

Jason Resnick joined Western Growers in 2003 and now serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. His responsibilities include overseeing the organization’s legal department, trade practices department, H-2A Services division, and corporate governance as Western Growers’ corporate secretary.  Jason provides advice and counsel on various legal, business and policy matters. Jason has primary staff liaison responsibility over the Western Growers Board of Directors, and the WG Executive and Labor Committees.

Click here for Jason Resnick's full biography.