Committee & Subcommittee Functions
Committees and subcommittees direct the programs at the California Tree Fruit Agreement. All members of these committees are volunteers who are growers or grower representatives. A CTFA staff or committee member contact is available to answer your questions or receive your comments. The Grower Relations Subcommittee is specifically set up to hear growers concerns about industry issues. Click on the name of the committee to view its members. If you are interested in more information about any of these committees or their activities please contact CTFA.
Executive Committee
Comprised of the chairperson of each of the commodity boards or committees along with the chairpersons of the Domestic, International, Research and Tree Fruit Quality Subcommittees, the Executive Committee meets monthly and oversees short and intermediate-term decisions and operations. The Executive Committee also appoints members to the subcommittees.
CTFA Staff Contact: Sheri Mierau, (559) 638-8260 smierau@caltreefruit.com
| Members |
|---|
Steve Jackson |
Peach Commodity Committee
The Peach Commodity Committee (PCC) is comprised of 13 members and 13 alternates selectedto represent the various growing districts in California. Members must be growers or employees of growers of peaches. Members are nominated at producer nomination meetings held in each district, serve two-year terms of office and are limited to three consecutive terms.
The marketing order authorizes grade, size, container, and pack requirements for peaches produced in California, as well as production and marketing research and market development programs for peaches.
Contact: Rick Jackson, (559) 897-1340, rjackson@caltreefruit.com
Fresno District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Robert Dick, Vice Chairman Vernon Peterson Andy Muxlow Rick Jackson, Chairman Harold McClarty Mike Reimer Ryan Metzler |
Vacant John Tos Jeannine Martin Cary Crum Jack Brandt Wayne Brandt Leroy Huerta Jr. |
Tulare District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Mike Jost Don D. Klassen Steve Jackson |
Anthony Balakian Jason George Jeff Warkentin |
Tehachapi-Kern District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| John Kovacevich Jr. | Vacant |
South Coast & Southern California District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| John Blalock | Louis Scattaglia |
Balance of State District
| All committee member positions currently vacant. |
Nectarine Administrative Committee
The Nectarine Administrative Committee (NAC) is comprised of 13 members and 13 alternates, representing the various growing districts in California. Members must be growers or employees of growers of nectarines. Members are nominated at producer nomination meetings held in each district, serve two-year terms of office and are limited to three consecutive terms.
The marketing order authorizes grade, size, container, and pack requirements for nectarines produced in California, as well as production and marketing research and market development programs for nectarines.
Contact: Rod Milton, (559) 646-5809, rmilton@caltreefruit.com
Fresno District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Rod Milton, Chairman Rick Milton Ron Frauenheim Blake Carlson Jim Simonian, Vice Chairman Steve Frauenheim |
Andrew Casado, Jr. Stuart Rotan Casey Jones John Kaprielian Richard Olson Mike Jackson |
Tulare District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Ron Peters Jeff Boldt Gordon Wiebe Anthony Balakian |
Doug Phillips John Warmerdam Jerry Kliewer Tony Supino |
Kern & Southern California District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Greg Tesch John Blalock |
Wayde Kirschenman Grant Parnagian |
Balance of State District
| All committee member positions currently vacant. |
California Plum Marketing Board
The California Plum Marketing Board (CPMB) is comprised of 13 members and 13 alternates, all of whom are growers of plums or employees of growers of plums. Of the membership, seven members and seven alternates must be “pure” growers, not involved in a commercial packing operation in which outside growers make up a substantial portion of their pack. Members are nominated at producer nomination meetings held in each district, serve two-year terms of office and are limited to three consecutive terms. Terms are staggered so that approximately half the Board is nominated and appointed on an annual basis.
Contact: Mike Jackson, (559) 897-3222, mjackson@caltreefruit.com
District No. 1 - Northern California
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Doug Wilson | Vacant |
District No. 2 - Fresno
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Steve Boos Mike Jackson, Chairman Carl Buxman Rick Milton Blake Carlson Kerry Gerdts |
Jack Brandt Andrew Casado Jr. Dave Botkin, Vice Chairman Vacant Kristina Unruh Ron Frauenheim |
District No. 3 - Tulare
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Jeff Enos David Stone Doug Phillips Keith Cosart |
Mark Bybee Waine Aalto Steve Strong Bruce Myers |
District No. 4 - Kern
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Gene Coughlin Steve Frauenheim |
Mike Harvey, Jr. Vacant |
California Tree Fruit Marketing Board
The California Tree Fruit Marketing Board (CTFMB) is comprised of peach and nectarine representatives: 13 peach members and 13 peach alternates, who are growers of peaches or employees of growers of peaches; and 13 nectarine members and 13 nectarine alternates, who are growers of nectarines or employees of growers of nectarines. Of the membership, seven peach members and seven peach alternates must be pure growers; seven nectarine members and seven nectarine alternates must be pure growers. Members are nominated at producer nomination meetings held in each district, serve two-year terms of office and are limited to three consecutive terms. Terms are staggered so that approximately half the Board is nominated and appointed on an annual basis.
Contact: Steve Jackson, (559) 287-8200, sjackson@caltreefruit.com
Peach Representatives
Northern California District No.1
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Justin Parnagian | Vincent Ricchiuti |
Fresno District No.2
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Mike Jost Wayne Brandt Steve Frauenheim Bill Chandler Harold McClarty Leroy Huerta, Jr. |
Ryan Metzler Casey Jones Andy Muxlow C.J. Buxman Jeannine Martin Denver Schutz |
Tulare District No.3
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Jason George Robert Dick Steve Jackson, Chairman Rick Jackson Gordon Wiebe |
Melvin Enns Don D. Klassen Sr. John Tos Cliff Brown Vacant |
Kern District No.4
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| John Blalock | John Kovacevich Jr. |
Nectarine Representatives
Northern California District No.1
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Pat V. Ricchiuti | Grant Parnagian |
Fresno District No.2
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Andrew Casado Jr., Vice Chairman Todd Barsoom Blake Carlson Marco Luna Rick Milton Jon McClarty |
Jim Simonian Ron Frauenheim John Kaprielian Greg Feaver Stuart Rotan Jeff Boldt |
Tulare District No.3
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| John Warmerdam Mike Reimer Craig Ito Mark Laemmlen Vernon Peterson |
Kerry Whitson Jeff Warkentin Doug Phillips Mark Bujulian Steve Strong |
Kern District No.4
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Wayde Kirschenman | Jose Marin |
Domestic Market Development Subcommittee
The Domestic Market Development Subcommittee is charged with reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of the programs carried out in domestic campaigns for CTFA. It meets monthly to provide direction and program development for proposed marketing activities on behalf of the committees. The Subcommittee is typically comprised of members of the Committees and Boards, as well as non-Committee and non-Board members from the industry. It specifically includes growers and shippers who have interest and expertise in marketing.
CTFA Staff Contact: Joanna Frith, jfrith@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Wayne Brandt, Vice Chairman Bo Brett Blake Carlson John Forry Ryan Jackson Sabrina Mak Jeannine Martin Justin Parnagian, Chairman Vincent Ricchiuti Blair Richardson Jonathan Roberts Rod Rosales John Tos Kerry Whitson |
Gino DiBuduo |
Tree Fruit Quality Subcommittee
The Tree Fruit Quality Subcommittee is charged with reviewing changes to regulations, container requirements, pack styles, inspection programs, and compliance matters. It is comprised of members of the various Committees and Boards and industry members. The Subcommittee meets three to four times per year and as needed to review items of change for the industry. Regulations are reviewed and recommended for action to the full Committees and Boards. This Subcommittee, for the federal programs, makes recommendations in the fall for peaches and nectarines which are accepted or recommended by the NAC and the PCC, reviewed by the USDA, published in the Federal Register, and implemented prior to the beginning of the tree fruit season.
For plums and the CTFMB, regulations are adopted in the fall; in the spring, when a new board is seated, the incoming board reaffirms the regulatory action of the outgoing board prior to the first harvest of fruit.
CTFA Staff Contact: Gary Van Sickle, gvansickle@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Waine Aalto Eric Blaylock Jack Brandt Mark Bybee Gino DiBuduo Jason George Rick Jackson Mike Jensen Tony Martinez Andy Muxlow Vernon Peterson Gordon Wiebe, Chairman |
C.J. Buxman Vincent Ricchiuti |
International Market Development Subcommittee
The International Market Development Subcommittee meets four to six times a year to provide direction for the development of marketing activities for global markets. Its primary activities are to recommend and authorize CTFA to pursue federal matching funds, to recommend approval of the final plans for international programs, to review activities at the conclusion of the season, and to provide strategic planning for the selection of emerging market opportunities based on cultural, phytosanitary, or marketing factors. The Subcommittee is comprised of industry members with a keen focus on export markets who can provide expertise on marketing with global partners, as well as members of the various Committees and Boards.
CTFA Staff Contact: Gordon Smith, gsmith@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Carl Buxman Maurice Cameron John Forry Rick Eastes Jerry Hongola Craig Ito Mike Jackson Douglass Phillips Derald Rager Steve Spears, Vice Chairman Jim Stewart, Chairman |
Doug Wilson Vincent Ricchiuti |
Research Subcommittee
The Research Subcommittee oversees research projects funded by CTFA. It first meets in the fall to review progress on the previous year’s research projects and to indicate those areas of concern to the industry for future research. The Subcommittee directs staff to solicit proposals from various research organizations, review those proposals during the winter months, and evaluate proposals for both pre- and post-harvest research based on industry needs and available dollars. The Research Subcommittee then recommends programs to be established and the allocation of funding of those projects among the three commodities.
CTFA Staff Contact: Gary Van Sickle, gvansickle@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Christeen Abbott Joe Bezerra Alan Butterfield Bill Chandler Steve Frauenheim Ryan Metzler Rod Milton Ty Parkinson Mike Reimer, Chairman Rod Riffel, Vice Chairman Wayne Stogbaur Bill Tos |
Maria Barbis Eric Gaarde |
Estimating Subcommittees
Recommendations of crop size are critical to the operation of the CTFA, especially in establishing assessment rates and budget parameters. Estimating Subcommittees meet in the late spring to review crop conditions and establish estimates by variety and by district. If necessary, they may review and re-estimate the crop during the season. Estimating Subcommittees are allocated across the producing areas, with one Subcommittee meeting to develop estimates for peaches, plums, and nectarines in the Kern District in Kern County, and another Subcommittee meeting to develop estimates for the Tulare/Fresno/Stanislaus areas. Outlying production areas and varieties not covered by these district teams are estimated by CTFA staff, who contact producers in those areas for crop information. Preliminary working estimates are oftentimes prepared by staff for review by the committees in the fall in order to begin the Committee process on available funds. Estimates are not made official until adopted by the full Committees and Boards in the spring, generally late April or early May.
Ad Hoc Subcommittees
Strategic Planning Subcommittee
Established when CTFA embarked on its first strategic plan in 2002, the Strategic Planning Subcommittee participates in the development of each new update of the Strategic Plan, along with the Executive Committee, other interested growers, and CTFA staff. The Strategic Planning Subcommittee is charged with monitoring the implementation of the plan and tracking progress in meeting it on behalf of the industry, reviewing the objectives of the current strategic plan and tracking industry and staff effort in meeting the plan’s criteria. The Subcommittee meets on an as-needed basis.CTFA Staff Contact: Sheri Mierau, smierau@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Wayne Brandt C.J. Buxman Mark Bybee Andrew Casado Jr., Chairman Bob Dick Bobby Ikemiya Mike Jackson Rick Jackson Marco Luna Ryan Metzler Rick Milton Vernon Peterson Mike Reimer Brent Smittcamp |
Bill Chandle Gino DiBuduo Rick Eastes Vincent Ricchiuti Blair Richardson Kerry Whitson |