NEWPORT BEACH, CA - With a new fiscal year came a new Annual Membership Meeting for The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA), marking its 80th year of influence with a gathering in Newport Beach, CA. On top of updating members on industry and committee happenings, the event featured the election of the new Board of Directors and Chairman, and Vice Chairman.
Currently made up by 47 men and women from all across California’s fresh fruit industry, CFFA’s Board of Directors elected new officers for the 2016/17 fiscal year.New appointments included Giumarra Vineyards' Vice President of Sales and industry veteran Randy Giumarra, Second Vice Chair for CFFA's 2015/16 fiscal year.
Selected by a committee of past Board Chairs, each officer will serve for a one-year period. According to a press release, the full list of newly elected officers includes:
- FIRST VICE CHAIR: Randy Giumarra, Vice President of Sales at Giumarra Vineyards
- SECOND VICE CHAIR: Kevin Herman, Owner, The Specialty Crop Company
- SECRETARY/TREASURER: Louis Pandol, Chairman, Pandol Bros., Inc.
- CHAIR: Harold McClarty, President of HMC Farms
The Board also welcomed the following new Directors:
- Melissa Poole of Wonderful Orchards
- Demetri Hronis of Hronis Inc.
- Mike Thurlow of Mountain View Fruit Sales
- Patrick Scully of Scully Packing
The Association also made sure to give thanks to its four exiting Directors:
- Bo Brett of Mountain View Fruit Sales
- Toni Scully of Scully Packing
- Edge Dostal of Fruit Patch Sales
- Ron Frauenheim of Ron Frauenheim Farms
During the meeting, the Association honored long-time board member Ken Enns with the prestigious Mentor’s Award, bestowed to an individual who has demonstrated “exceptional dedication to the fresh grape, berry and tree fruit communities through their leadership in the industry.” A former CFFA chairman in 1998, Ken has served on its Board for 27 years.
Prior to the Annual Membership Meeting, the Association hosted its Annual Industry Workshop, featuring key note speakers Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, professor and nationally syndicated columnist, and Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, Executive Director of the Center for Produce Safety (CPS). Dr. Hanson reviewed the national political scene and shared his insight on the current factors impacting California agriculture, exposing the many challenges for the industry to survive. During Fernandez-Fenaroli’s speech, she discussed the importance of food safety and CPS’s mission to provide ready-to-use, science-based solutions to prevent and minimize produce safety vulnerabilities.
