Joe Pezzini named ag leadership award winner
Joe Pezzini named ag leadership award winner
SALINAS, CA -- A committee of his peers has selected Joe Pezzini, vice president of operations of Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms, as the Salinas Valley Chamber's 2007 Agricultural Leadership Award winner.
The Agricultural Leadership Award is part of the tradition established in 1990 by the Salinas Valley Chamber to acknowledge the individual, company, group, association or agency that has made the most significant contribution to the agricultural community in the Salinas area. The award winners are chosen by a committee made up exclusively of past award recipients.
In addition to his role with Ocean Mist, Mr. Pezzini is the outgoing chairman of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California and is active with the new Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. He also is involved in Ag Against Hunger, a food-assistance program that funnels fresh, surplus produce to food banks and community pantries primarily in California's Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
Bev Meamber, former president and chief executive officer of the Salinas Valley Chamber, said that every year there is someone who "really stands out" from the pack.
"This year, Joe Pezzini stepped to the forefront and took a huge leadership role," Ms. Meamber said, pointing to Mr. Pezzini's leadership role in representing agriculture in the Salinas Valley and surrounding area to the media after the E. coli outbreak in spinach in September.
Selection committee member John Inman said in a statement that the selection of Joe Pezzini "really epitomizes the essence of the type of strong leadership that all of us can be proud of, as representative of our agricultural community."
Mr. Pezzini said that he is "proud and honored" to be recognized by the chamber and past award recipients. He added that it "has been a trying time for the past 10 months or so," but that it was a good experience, and he is glad to be recognized for stepping up and representing the industry.
The award will be presented at a luncheon that is part of the upcoming Salute to Agriculture events on Sept. 13 at Tanimura & Antle's headquarters at 1 Harris Road in Spreckles, CA.
The Agricultural Leadership Award is part of the tradition established in 1990 by the Salinas Valley Chamber to acknowledge the individual, company, group, association or agency that has made the most significant contribution to the agricultural community in the Salinas area. The award winners are chosen by a committee made up exclusively of past award recipients.
In addition to his role with Ocean Mist, Mr. Pezzini is the outgoing chairman of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California and is active with the new Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. He also is involved in Ag Against Hunger, a food-assistance program that funnels fresh, surplus produce to food banks and community pantries primarily in California's Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
Bev Meamber, former president and chief executive officer of the Salinas Valley Chamber, said that every year there is someone who "really stands out" from the pack.
"This year, Joe Pezzini stepped to the forefront and took a huge leadership role," Ms. Meamber said, pointing to Mr. Pezzini's leadership role in representing agriculture in the Salinas Valley and surrounding area to the media after the E. coli outbreak in spinach in September.
Selection committee member John Inman said in a statement that the selection of Joe Pezzini "really epitomizes the essence of the type of strong leadership that all of us can be proud of, as representative of our agricultural community."
Mr. Pezzini said that he is "proud and honored" to be recognized by the chamber and past award recipients. He added that it "has been a trying time for the past 10 months or so," but that it was a good experience, and he is glad to be recognized for stepping up and representing the industry.
The award will be presented at a luncheon that is part of the upcoming Salute to Agriculture events on Sept. 13 at Tanimura & Antle's headquarters at 1 Harris Road in Spreckles, CA.
