PRESS RELEASE from the Western Growers Association

Western Growers Endorses McCain for President of the United States 

IRVINE, Calif., March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Western Growers' Board of Directors has voted to endorse Arizona's John McCain in his bid to become the
44th president of the United States.

"Senator McCain has shown courage, determination and exceptional leadership skills in support of policies and principles important to Western Growers' members in Arizona and California," said Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif. "He has steadfastly promoted free markets, sensible fiscal policies, repairs of our immigration laws, and knows how important to our economy are the fruit, vegetable and nut producers in the west."

Bob Gray, Western Growers Board Chairman and CEO of Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., added "We are proud to stand with Senator McCain for his strong efforts to bring our critical industry issues to the forefront. We are also mindful and appreciative of the Senator's deep understanding of the challenges to American security and take great comfort in the experience and depth of preparation he will bring to the presidency."

Western Growers is an agricultural trade association whose members from Arizona and California grow, pack and ship ninety percent of the fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in California and seventy five percent of those commodities in Arizona. This totals about half of the nation's fresh produce.


SOURCE Western Growers Association

Paul Simonds, Mgr. Communications, +1-949-885-2257, PSimonds@wga.com, or Wendy Fink-Weber, Dir. Communications, +1-949-885-2256, WFWeber@wga.com, both of Western Growers Association