Beckman, others out as CTC moves forward with downsizing
Beckman, others out as CTC moves forward with downsizing
FRESNO, CA -- As reported last week in The Produce News, at its board of directors meetings and executive sessions held Sept. 19 in Sacramento, the California Tomato Commission, here, decided to downsize the state commodity commission effective immediately, a cutback which will eliminate the marketing and government affairs program and retain only the research program, which focuses on seed varieties and pest management.
The announcement was made in an official press release dated Sept. 20 which also noted that some jobs at CTC would be eliminated, though there have not been any announcements. It stated that the board voted to provide up to a six-month benefits program for terminated employees.
The release also stated that the decision to downsize came as a follow-up to discussions that arose during strategic planning sessions last November. The Produce News has since learned that commission President Ed Beckman was among the four employees who will lose their jobs. Mr. Beckman has been with the commission for 18 years.
Mr. Beckman's office told The Produce News that he was not available for comment. However, on Friday, Sept. 22, the Fresno Bee quoted Mr. Beckman as saying that he, along with three others on the staff, would be terminated by Nov. 30. According to the Bee, Mr. Beckman said that it is "likely that John LeBoeuf, contracted as research coordinator, will remain in that role."
John Segale of Precision Public Relations, which represents the commission, outlined some of the elements of the downsizing plan that were reviewed and voted on in a written communication to The Produce News. Among the decisions were: to eliminate four positions; to contract with Monfort Management in Dinuba, CA, to provide administrative services; and to recommend that the existing research coordinator provide managerial services.
Monfort currently administers several produce and agriculture-related programs such as the California Fresh Carrot Advisory Board, the Cantaloupe Research Board and the California Celery Research Advisory Board.
The CTC's Industry Update dated Sept. 22 and sent to members throughout the California tomato industry explained the change as follows: "Since last winter, the commission has been evaluating the current programs of the commission and how the CTC can best meet the needs of industry in the future. These are issues that have been discussed in depth at strategic planning sessions, during nomination meetings, board meetings and, most recently, the directors meetings of last June and this past week.
"The decision announced this week to terminate the marketing and governmental affairs programs should not be construed as any indication these programs were not effective. The overwhelming support at the most recent renewal program documented their success.
"The very real issue before the board is how to best meet the needs given the dramatic change that's impacting the fresh tomato industry," including increased competition and growing tension among U.S., Canadian and Mexican producers.
"Customers are asking for more guarantees -- especially related to food safety -- and with no added return for the grower. And Washington continues to open the U.S. border to more imports. Thus, the question was raised -- is the commission the best option for successfully addressing these issues? The majority of the board believes other options should be explored- - options that may take some time to sort out."
As a result of the restructuring, "some very good people, who've worked tirelessly for the industry, will be leaving the commission at the end of November," according to the update. "But the realities of the downsizing don't require the staffing or office space that we have today."
Bill Wilbur, president of Oceanside Produce Inc. in Oceanside, CA, and a member of the commission's board, told The Produce News that Mr. Beckman and the other members of the commission staff "have done a wonderful job for us. It is unfortunate [that their jobs are being eliminated], but it is part of today's business world, I guess."
Commenting on some of the commission's most significant recent achievements, Mr. Wilbur said, "It has helped us round out our business" by providing aid with governmental affairs, helping to direct food-safety concerns and providing marketing information on both a national and international scope.
David Cook of Deardorff Family Farms in Oxnard, CA, said that among the major recent accomplishments of the commission that come to mind was the resolution of a trade dispute a few years back between the California tomato industry and the greenhouse tomato industry in British Columbia, which California growers had accused of dumping.
In the midst of that bitter trade dispute, Mr. Beckman demonstrated a remarkable leadership and diplomatic ability in getting representatives of the Canadian and California industries as well as representatives of government agencies from both countries to sit down together and talk about issues of mutual concern. From the initial meeting, other tomato industry representatives were drawn in from Florida and Mexico, and the North American Tomato Trade Work Group was formed.
Regarding that accomplishment, Mr. Cook said, "That was a big deal, just getting everybody to sit down together and talk."
Mr. Beckman was also successful in getting the U.S. Department of Agriculture "to start reporting the greenhouse shipments in Market News," he said. "Before, they weren't even acknowledging" that the product was in the market.
"[Another] thing that comes to mind is the export of California tomatoes." Business to Japan, for example, has doubled or tripled largely through the commission's market development efforts, he said.
Mr. Beckman has come under fire recently, having been accused in a lawsuit filed by Gonzales Packing Co. in Gonzales, CA, of misappropriating funds. In the same lawsuit, Gonzales accused the commission of being unconstitutional and A.G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture, of failing to carry out his oversight duties.
In the lawsuit, Gonzales Packing alleges that Mr. Beckman used his position as president to use commission funds on activities or expenses contrary to the specified statute that authorized the establishment of the California Tomato Commission, including expenditures on expensive hotel rooms, limousines, charter airplane trips, meals and entertainment.
Mr. Beckman has denied the allegations, and the litigation is pending. Acknowledging that the elimination of marketing and governmental affairs programs from the commission's responsibilities will leave a void in the industry, Mr. Cook stated that industry leaders are discussing forming "a separate voluntary type of organization" to carry out at least some of those activities.
Mr. Wilbur said that he could not comment at this time on what form any alternative organization might take. "I know there has been some discussion, but formally it is still on the drawing board."
He did say that a voluntary program is "kind of where discussion has been over the last year."
The announcement was made in an official press release dated Sept. 20 which also noted that some jobs at CTC would be eliminated, though there have not been any announcements. It stated that the board voted to provide up to a six-month benefits program for terminated employees.
The release also stated that the decision to downsize came as a follow-up to discussions that arose during strategic planning sessions last November. The Produce News has since learned that commission President Ed Beckman was among the four employees who will lose their jobs. Mr. Beckman has been with the commission for 18 years.
Mr. Beckman's office told The Produce News that he was not available for comment. However, on Friday, Sept. 22, the Fresno Bee quoted Mr. Beckman as saying that he, along with three others on the staff, would be terminated by Nov. 30. According to the Bee, Mr. Beckman said that it is "likely that John LeBoeuf, contracted as research coordinator, will remain in that role."
John Segale of Precision Public Relations, which represents the commission, outlined some of the elements of the downsizing plan that were reviewed and voted on in a written communication to The Produce News. Among the decisions were: to eliminate four positions; to contract with Monfort Management in Dinuba, CA, to provide administrative services; and to recommend that the existing research coordinator provide managerial services.
Monfort currently administers several produce and agriculture-related programs such as the California Fresh Carrot Advisory Board, the Cantaloupe Research Board and the California Celery Research Advisory Board.
The CTC's Industry Update dated Sept. 22 and sent to members throughout the California tomato industry explained the change as follows: "Since last winter, the commission has been evaluating the current programs of the commission and how the CTC can best meet the needs of industry in the future. These are issues that have been discussed in depth at strategic planning sessions, during nomination meetings, board meetings and, most recently, the directors meetings of last June and this past week.
"The decision announced this week to terminate the marketing and governmental affairs programs should not be construed as any indication these programs were not effective. The overwhelming support at the most recent renewal program documented their success.
"The very real issue before the board is how to best meet the needs given the dramatic change that's impacting the fresh tomato industry," including increased competition and growing tension among U.S., Canadian and Mexican producers.
"Customers are asking for more guarantees -- especially related to food safety -- and with no added return for the grower. And Washington continues to open the U.S. border to more imports. Thus, the question was raised -- is the commission the best option for successfully addressing these issues? The majority of the board believes other options should be explored- - options that may take some time to sort out."
As a result of the restructuring, "some very good people, who've worked tirelessly for the industry, will be leaving the commission at the end of November," according to the update. "But the realities of the downsizing don't require the staffing or office space that we have today."
Bill Wilbur, president of Oceanside Produce Inc. in Oceanside, CA, and a member of the commission's board, told The Produce News that Mr. Beckman and the other members of the commission staff "have done a wonderful job for us. It is unfortunate [that their jobs are being eliminated], but it is part of today's business world, I guess."
Commenting on some of the commission's most significant recent achievements, Mr. Wilbur said, "It has helped us round out our business" by providing aid with governmental affairs, helping to direct food-safety concerns and providing marketing information on both a national and international scope.
David Cook of Deardorff Family Farms in Oxnard, CA, said that among the major recent accomplishments of the commission that come to mind was the resolution of a trade dispute a few years back between the California tomato industry and the greenhouse tomato industry in British Columbia, which California growers had accused of dumping.
In the midst of that bitter trade dispute, Mr. Beckman demonstrated a remarkable leadership and diplomatic ability in getting representatives of the Canadian and California industries as well as representatives of government agencies from both countries to sit down together and talk about issues of mutual concern. From the initial meeting, other tomato industry representatives were drawn in from Florida and Mexico, and the North American Tomato Trade Work Group was formed.
Regarding that accomplishment, Mr. Cook said, "That was a big deal, just getting everybody to sit down together and talk."
Mr. Beckman was also successful in getting the U.S. Department of Agriculture "to start reporting the greenhouse shipments in Market News," he said. "Before, they weren't even acknowledging" that the product was in the market.
"[Another] thing that comes to mind is the export of California tomatoes." Business to Japan, for example, has doubled or tripled largely through the commission's market development efforts, he said.
Mr. Beckman has come under fire recently, having been accused in a lawsuit filed by Gonzales Packing Co. in Gonzales, CA, of misappropriating funds. In the same lawsuit, Gonzales accused the commission of being unconstitutional and A.G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture, of failing to carry out his oversight duties.
In the lawsuit, Gonzales Packing alleges that Mr. Beckman used his position as president to use commission funds on activities or expenses contrary to the specified statute that authorized the establishment of the California Tomato Commission, including expenditures on expensive hotel rooms, limousines, charter airplane trips, meals and entertainment.
Mr. Beckman has denied the allegations, and the litigation is pending. Acknowledging that the elimination of marketing and governmental affairs programs from the commission's responsibilities will leave a void in the industry, Mr. Cook stated that industry leaders are discussing forming "a separate voluntary type of organization" to carry out at least some of those activities.
Mr. Wilbur said that he could not comment at this time on what form any alternative organization might take. "I know there has been some discussion, but formally it is still on the drawing board."
He did say that a voluntary program is "kind of where discussion has been over the last year."
