California Fresh Fruit Association holds 79th annual board meeting under new name
California Fresh Fruit Association holds 79th annual board meeting under new name
The California Fresh Fruit Association kicked off its new fiscal year during its 79th annual meeting in Del Mar, CA. The event featured the election of the board of directors and chairman, as well as industry and committee updates.
The board of directors is made up of 47 men and women from operations located from as far south as Coachella Valley with fresh table grape vineyards to as far north as Lake County with pear production.
David Jackson of Family Tree Farms was re-elected as chairman of the board of directors for the 2015-16 fiscal year. The organization's officers are nominated to serve for a one-year period and are selected by a committee of past chairs.
In addition to Jackson, the slate of officers includes Harold McClarty of HMC Farms in Kingsburg as first vice-chair; Randy Giumarra of Giumarra Vineyards in Bakersfield as second vice-chair; and Louis Pandol of Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano as secretary-treasurer.
The board welcomed new director Bill Chandler of Chandler Farms in Selma. The board also thanked three exiting directors, Stan Cosart of W.F. Cosart Packing Co. in Exeter, Tom Schultz of Chase National Kiwi Farms in Marysville and Carol Chandler of Chandler Farms in Selma.
The board meets three times a year to take action on regulatory and legislative issues at the state, federal and international level.
Prior to the annual membership meeting, the annual industry workshop featured speakers Dave Corsi of Wegmans, David McInerney of FreshDirect and Cathy Enright of The Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Corsi shared his thoughts and perspective on issues having the greatest impact on marketing fresh fruits. Specifically, he discussed the issue of food safety in relation to fresh fruit.
McInerney’s presentation concentrated on the relationship between growers and shippers.
Enright, an industry leader when it comes to genetically modified organisms, spoke on perspective affecting the fresh fruit industry in relation to the use of genetically altered products.
