OJAI, CA - The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) began its new fiscal year on Monday, March 10, during the Annual Membership Breakfast at the 89th Annual Meeting, which took place at the Ojai Valley Inn. The event featured the election of the Board of Directors and Chairwoman, as well as industry and committee updates.
The Board of Directors is made up of 32 men and women from operations located across California. Melissa Frank (Wonderful Orchards) was elected as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the 2025/26 fiscal year. The organization's officers are nominated to serve for a one-year period and are selected by a committee of past Board Chairs. The full slate of officers includes:
- CHAIR: Melissa Frank (Wonderful Orchards) – Kern County-based diversified farming operation
- FIRST VICE CHAIR: Casey Jones (Sun Valley Packing) – Reedley-based stone fruit grower and shipper
- SECRETARY/TREASURER: Louis Pandol (Pandol Bros, Inc.) – Delano-based fresh table grape shipper
The 89th Annual Meeting began on Sunday, March 9, with the Chairwoman’s Welcome Reception. This year featured two days of Industry Workshops featuring keynote speaker Nicola Twilley, author of “Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, Ourselves”. She discussed her research on the impact refrigeration has had on our health and redefined what fresh means. Attendees heard from Ron Barsamian of Barsamian and Moody, with an update on California labor laws. Additionally, Tuesday’s Industry Workshop featured a political panel featuring Louie Brown of Kahn, Soares, Conway, Lorren Walker of Elias Walker and Josh Walters of the Alliance for California’s Farmers and Ranchers, who discussed the effects of the 2024 election.
With 200 people in attendance, the 89th Annual Meeting provided the opportunity for membership to gather prior to the 2025 harvest season. The Association leadership and staff look forward to serving the fresh fruit industry throughout the 2025/26 fiscal year.
