California Strawberry Commission president to resign
California Strawberry Commission president to resign
Rodger Wasson, president of the California Strawberry Commission since May 2002, announced his resignation from the commission, effective Sept. 15.
Mr. Wasson told The Produce News that his decision to resign was reached mutually with the executive committee of the commission and that he had alerted them at several points during his tenure that he felt the day would come when the commission would be better served by finding his replacement.
The commission is a state government agency that represents an industry of about 510 growers and 75 shippers and processors.
Board Chairman Rich Amirsehhi said that an interim appointment will be made right away to allow for the time it may take to find a permanent replacement.
Mr. Amirsehhi said in a statement that the board remains committed to the commission's strategic plan and that he "expects the momentum established within these programs by Mr. Wasson and staff to continue and build without being impacted by the change in leadership."
Mr. Wasson said he's happy with the contributions he's made to the strawberry industry but that it's important "knowing when it's time to move on.
"[The commission] needs a different style, Mr. Wasson said. "I like to push hard. I've never been the sort that likes calm and maintaining.
Mr. Wasson said that he tends to be "hands-on and "engaged in with major issues. He has thrown himself into maintaining methyl bromide use, which has required meetings with the United Nations, meetings in Washington, DC, and building a rapport with other organizations. That effort came at a price, Mr. Wasson said, because he couldn't also spend adequate "time in the field talking to a grower who might be going through a difficult time. He added that there's value in displaying empathy for growers who may be facing a difficult season. To witness firsthand problems in the field helped make his arguments to legislators more passionate.
While he said that he values spending time with growers, he admits some growers would rather that he focus his time with legislators as he had been doing. Both points have merit, he said.
"You're not able to cover all the bases, Mr. Wasson said. "You can't be totally balanced and make progress.
Mr. Wasson lists among his accomplishments during his tenure on the commission the creation of The Red Edge, which initiated a solid repositioning of strawberries based on unique nutritional food attributes that can build year-round demand; preservation of adequate availability of methyl bromide through strategic and comprehensive collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, White House Center for Environmental Quality, United States Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency; recruiting a strong, professional staff; establishing the industry's first full-time government affairs office in Sacramento; refocusing from merchandising and sales promotion to category management and research; and implementing a new strategic plan with related changes to committee and staff structure/budgets.
Tom Jones, vice chairman of the commission's board, said in a press release issued by the commission that Mr. Wasson had "particularly remarkable skill and influence in the political arena.
Also in that release Mr. Amirsehhi commended Mr. Wasson "for his commitment and hard work on behalf of the industry. Mr. Wasson said he has some ideas about what his next career move will be but that first he will concentrate on wrapping up his work with commission. In the commission's press release, Mr. Wasson said that he would begin "planning my next challenge of providing strategic counsel to industries, business and government agencies.
Mr. Wasson came to the commission from the Almond Board of California, where he had been CEO for a number of years. Prior to that, he had been CEO of the American Sheep Industry Association for eight years, which included under its umbrella Mr. Wasson's leadership of the American Lamb Council and American Wool Council. For two years he ran his own strategic consulting firm in Denver, which involved work with several commodities. For two years he was head of operations and marketing for the National Pork Producers Council and spent six years with the Indiana Beefcattle Association, where he was executive vice president.
Mr. Wasson told The Produce News that his decision to resign was reached mutually with the executive committee of the commission and that he had alerted them at several points during his tenure that he felt the day would come when the commission would be better served by finding his replacement.
The commission is a state government agency that represents an industry of about 510 growers and 75 shippers and processors.
Board Chairman Rich Amirsehhi said that an interim appointment will be made right away to allow for the time it may take to find a permanent replacement.
Mr. Amirsehhi said in a statement that the board remains committed to the commission's strategic plan and that he "expects the momentum established within these programs by Mr. Wasson and staff to continue and build without being impacted by the change in leadership."
Mr. Wasson said he's happy with the contributions he's made to the strawberry industry but that it's important "knowing when it's time to move on.
"[The commission] needs a different style, Mr. Wasson said. "I like to push hard. I've never been the sort that likes calm and maintaining.
Mr. Wasson said that he tends to be "hands-on and "engaged in with major issues. He has thrown himself into maintaining methyl bromide use, which has required meetings with the United Nations, meetings in Washington, DC, and building a rapport with other organizations. That effort came at a price, Mr. Wasson said, because he couldn't also spend adequate "time in the field talking to a grower who might be going through a difficult time. He added that there's value in displaying empathy for growers who may be facing a difficult season. To witness firsthand problems in the field helped make his arguments to legislators more passionate.
While he said that he values spending time with growers, he admits some growers would rather that he focus his time with legislators as he had been doing. Both points have merit, he said.
"You're not able to cover all the bases, Mr. Wasson said. "You can't be totally balanced and make progress.
Mr. Wasson lists among his accomplishments during his tenure on the commission the creation of The Red Edge, which initiated a solid repositioning of strawberries based on unique nutritional food attributes that can build year-round demand; preservation of adequate availability of methyl bromide through strategic and comprehensive collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, White House Center for Environmental Quality, United States Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency; recruiting a strong, professional staff; establishing the industry's first full-time government affairs office in Sacramento; refocusing from merchandising and sales promotion to category management and research; and implementing a new strategic plan with related changes to committee and staff structure/budgets.
Tom Jones, vice chairman of the commission's board, said in a press release issued by the commission that Mr. Wasson had "particularly remarkable skill and influence in the political arena.
Also in that release Mr. Amirsehhi commended Mr. Wasson "for his commitment and hard work on behalf of the industry. Mr. Wasson said he has some ideas about what his next career move will be but that first he will concentrate on wrapping up his work with commission. In the commission's press release, Mr. Wasson said that he would begin "planning my next challenge of providing strategic counsel to industries, business and government agencies.
Mr. Wasson came to the commission from the Almond Board of California, where he had been CEO for a number of years. Prior to that, he had been CEO of the American Sheep Industry Association for eight years, which included under its umbrella Mr. Wasson's leadership of the American Lamb Council and American Wool Council. For two years he ran his own strategic consulting firm in Denver, which involved work with several commodities. For two years he was head of operations and marketing for the National Pork Producers Council and spent six years with the Indiana Beefcattle Association, where he was executive vice president.
