Agribusiness veteran Rob Yraceburu becomes Western Growers board chair

Western Growers’ membership of family farmers and growers has elected Rob Yraceburu, President of Wonderful Orchards at The Wonderful Company, to serve as Chair of the Western Growers Board of Directors for a two-year term.

Yraceburu’s long relationship with the organization, which represents two-thirds of America’s fresh produce, spans more than two decades, dating back to his many years as a senior banker at Wells Fargo, where he focused on the agriculture industry, and more recently, over a decade at The Wonderful Company as a grower.

Yraceburu was first elected to the Board in 2016 and has served as Vice Chair since 2023.

“Agriculture is America’s single most important product, and the world counts on our success, which is why the work of Western Growers will always be critically important,” said Yraceburu. “When growers stand shoulder to shoulder, we are the most powerful voice there is, and today, our collective voice has never mattered more.”

An industry veteran to lead Western Growers

His 40-year career at the intersection of finance and agriculture began at Wells Fargo, where he rose to executive vice president and head of the National Food & Agribusiness Division. During that time, he partnered with Stewart Resnick to finance many of the acquisitions that shaped The Wonderful Company–from early pistachio and almond acreage to FIJI Water, JUSTIN Vineyards, and Wonderful Citrus operations.

In his role, Yraceburu also oversees Wonderful Bees, one of the most extensive beekeeping operations in the US, with more than 62,000 hives; Wonderful Nurseries, which specializes in the production of almond and proprietary pistachio trees; and Wonderful Laboratories, which provides agricultural analyses and supports growers across the industry.

“Our industry is facing formidable challenges but also an interesting set of potential opportunities flowing from our national dialogue around food and nutrition,” said Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia. “Rob is a thoughtful and focused leader in our industry, and we are fortunate that he has committed himself to lead the Western Growers Board of Directors for the next two years."

A new era 

Outgoing Western Growers Chair Stuart Woolf passed the gavel to Yraceburu during the Western Growers 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego.

During the Annual Meeting, Stewart Resnick, The Wonderful Company Chairman, President, and Co-Owner, received the Award of Honor, the association’s highest recognition of achievement, for his 50 years of agricultural excellence and community impact.

*All images courtesy of Western Growers

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