The world can feel like a volatile place right now. Global events continue to exert pressure on supply chains for some of the crucial crop inputs that our customers depend on. When that pressure gets too tight, shipping can be disrupted and costs take off. We feel those impacts quickly. While we anticipate some brief supply hiccups this spring, I’m confident that we are positioned to be able to get product where and when our customers need it.

Our experience living in a “supply-constrained” environment has taught us a lot over the past few years. We’ve invested a tremendous amount of time and energy to more strategically forecast product supply and demand. Today, that means keeping a close eye on the global markets for crop protection and fertilizer products. It also means discussing plans, agronomic programs and objectives with our growers, then adjusting how we lock in what our customers need.

As we head into the 2024 growing season, we know there’s a lot of pressure on every one of our customers. Having the right products to raise bountiful, high-quality crops shouldn’t contribute to that pressure. So we’ll keep working to make sure we’ve got what our customers need when they need it. 

None of us is perfect, but we are committed to maintaining a laser focus on our ability to say “we have it” whenever a Grow West customer contacts their location to get the products or service for the next trip through the field, vineyard or orchard.   

In this issue of Growing Together, you’ll see other ways we’re working with customers and others in the ag world to help alleviate some of the pressure on our industry, whether caused by weeds and pests, regulations or anything in between. You can count on Grow West to always work with our customers to overcome the pressures they face.  

Best,
Robbie Malm
Grow West Director of Procurement & Supplier Relations