Organic Grower Summit Returns to Monterey Dec. 2-3 With Field Demo Day

Roughly 600 organic growers, consultants, inspectors and suppliers will gather at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel on California's central coast on Dec. 2-3 for the Organic Grower Summit, presented by Farm Progress and expanded this year with a live field demonstration day.

The summit opens with a keynote from Thaddeus Barsati, founder of Cape Organic and the 2019 Organic Grower of the Year. His address will break down what growers actually receive for their product — a margin question that sits at the center of every certified operation's planning for the coming season.

What does the summit change for growers? It moves part of the program out of the exhibit hall and into the field.

What happens at Reservoir Farms?

New this year, attendees will head off-site Wednesday afternoon for a reception at Reservoir Farms. There, Reservoir, John Deere and Western Growers will host live field demonstrations of the newest organic farming technology. For growers weighing equipment capital against input budgets, the demonstrations offer a rare chance to watch machinery work before a purchase decision.

Back at the Hyatt, an indoor and outdoor trade show will connect organic-focused suppliers with growers seeking tools, inputs and services suited to certified production.

Who takes Grower of the Year?

The summit's signature moment arrives Thursday morning. Organizers will recognize four finalists for the 9th annual Grower of the Year Award, sponsored by John Deere, and name the 2026 Organic Grower of the Year.

The award follows a lineage that includes Barsati himself, the 2019 honoree, giving the ceremony continuity that stretches across nearly a decade of the event.

What do the education sessions cover?

Sessions will address three tracks central to certified production:

• Soil health, the foundation of organic yield programs
• Integrated pest management, a persistent cost driver without synthetic crop protection
• Market trends, including demand signals from retail buyers

A retailer panel moderated by Matt Linde of the Organic Trade Association will address grocery buyer expectations on quality, consistency, pricing and packaging. For growers negotiating contracts, that panel speaks directly to what buyers will pay for and what they will reject.

A full two-day pass covers sessions, meals, the trade show, transportation and the awards ceremony.

The summit lands as winter settles over operations nationwide, positioning it as a planning window before the next production cycle. Growers who attend will leave with equipment assessments, buyer expectations and peer benchmarks to carry into spring.