David Puglia

David Puglia is president and CEO at the Western Growers. He leads the state government affairs and media communications staff on behalf of the association’s 2,500 members in California and Arizona. He and his team manage a range of legislative and regulatory issues affecting the fresh produce industry and agriculture generally. In addition, he manages Western Growers’ political action committees. Prior to joining Western Growers in 2005, he was vice president of APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs consulting firm. He previously served for seven years in the California Attorney General’s Office, first as press secretary and later as director of public affairs and communications. He has also worked on four statewide political campaigns in California. He is the vice-chair of  the PPIC Water Policy Center Advisory Council. A native of Sacramento, he holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento, where he majored in government and journalism.