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, Compliance and Harvest and Health Protection 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: Gary Van Sickle, (559) 638-8260 gvansickle@caltreefruit.com
| Members |
|---|
|
Bill Chandler |
Peach Commodity Committee
The Peach Commodity Committee (PCC) is comprised of 13 members and 13 alternates selected to 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 |
|---|---|
|
Harold McClarty Vernon Peterson Jack Brandt Don D. Klassen Wayne Brandt Michael Reimer Russ Tavlan, Vice Chairman |
Tim Thiesen Casey Jones Jeannine Martin Marco Rinaldi Marco Luna Ryan Metzler Tony Martinez |
Tulare District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Rick Jackson, Chairman John Tos Michael Jost |
Duane Lamm Andy Muxlow Mark Bybee |
Tehachapi-Kern District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| John Kovacevich Jr. | Jose Marin |
South Coast & Southern California District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| John Blalock | Vacant |
Balance of State District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Vacant | 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 |
|---|---|
|
Mike Jackson Rick Milton Rod Milton, Chairman John Kaprielian Jim Simonian Casey Jones |
Rod Riffel Steve Boos Richard Olson Vacant Jim Jones Phil Braun |
Tulare District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
John Warmerdam Jeff Boldt, Vice Chairman Gordon Wiebe Steve Strong |
Kerry Whitson Doug Phillips Jerry Kliewer Tony Supino |
Kern & Southern California District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Jose Marin John Blalock |
Greg Tesch Wayde Kirschenman |
Balance of State District
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Vacant | 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: Gary Van Sickle, (559) 638-8260, gvansickle@caltreefruit.com
District No. 1 - Northern California
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Doug Wilson | Jon Parnagian |
District No. 2 - Fresno
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Mike Jackson, Chairman Steve Boos Jack Brandt Ken Peters Rick Milton Kristina Unruh Phil Braun |
Dave Botkin Daniel Huerta Carl Buxman Andrew Casado Jr. David Harris Jim Jones George Nikolich |
District No. 3 - Tulare
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
David Stone Mark Bybee, Vice Chairman Steve Strong Doug Phillips |
Richard Sawatzky Waine Aalto Keith Cosart Bruce Myers |
District No. 4 - Kern
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Jose Marin | Gene Coughlin |
California Tree Fruit Marketing Board
The California Tree Fruit Marketing Board (CTFMB) is comprised of peach and nectarine representatives: 8 peach members and 8 peach alternates, who are growers of peaches or employees of growers of peaches; and 8 nectarine members and 8 nectarine alternates, who are growers of nectarines or employees of growers of nectarines. Of the membership, six peach members and six peach alternates must be pure growers; six nectarine members and six 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: Gary Van Sickle, (559) 638-8260, gvansickle@caltreefruit.com
Peach Representatives
District No. 1 - Fresno
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Harold McClarty Wayne Brandt Russ Tavlan Bill Chandler Justin Parnagian |
Casey Jones Andy Muxlow Marco Rinaldi Ryan Metzler Jeff Swenning |
District No. 2 - Tulare
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Don Klassen Gordon Wiebe, Vice Chairman |
Rick Jackson Mike Jost |
District No. 3 - Kern
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| Brian Richardson | John Blalock |
Nectarine Representatives
District No. 1 - Fresno
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Rick Milton Jon McClarty John Kaprielian Jeff Boldt Andrew Casado, Jr. |
Marco Luna Rod Riffel Greg Feaver David Gonzalez Jim Simonian, Sr. |
District No. 2 - Tulare
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Mike Reimer, Chairman Vernon Peterson |
Mark Laemmlen John Warmerdam |
District No. 3 - Kern
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
| John Kovacevich | 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: Gordon Smith, gsmith@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Bo Brett Ryan Jackson Dave Maddux Jeannine Martin Chelsea McClarty Justin Parnagian, Chairman Rod Rosales Denver Schutz Kerry Whitson |
Vacant Wayne Brandt, Vice Chairman Janessa Iden Sabrina Mak Tony Martinez |
Compliance Subcommittee (formerly Tree Fruit Quality)
The Compliance Subcommittee (formerly 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 Jack Brandt, Vice Chairman Mark Bybee Rick Jackson Tony Martinez Andy Muxlow Vernon Peterson Kerry Whitson Gordon Wiebe, Chairman Eric Wuhl |
Eric Gaarde Marco Luna |
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 |
|---|---|
|
Maurice Cameron, Vice Chairman Jerry Hongola Craig Ito Mike Jackson David Maddux Marcy Martin Chad Nelson Douglass Phillips Brian Richardson Denver Schutz Sam Stewart |
Eric Gaarde Jon McClarty Jim Stewart, Chairman |
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, Chairman Ryan Metzler Rod Milton George Nikolich Ty Parkinson Mike Reimer Rod Riffel, Vice Chairman Wayne Stogbauer Bill Tos Eric Wuhl |
Maria Barbis Eric Gaarde Marcy Martin Tony Martinez |
Harvest and Health Protection Subcommittee
The Harvest and Health Protection Subcommittee meets periodically to discuss issues related to food safety, new or proposed regulations impacting farming practices and increased media postings related to our industry. This subcommittee will recommend actions, such as research, consumer education or partnering with other industry groups, to the boards and committees for approval. Recommendations may also be made to other subcommittees to develop strategies or activity recommendations.
CTFA Staff Contact: Gary Van Sickle, gvansickle@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Blake Carlson Craig Ito Daniel Jackson Jeannine Martin Harold McClarty Rick Milton, Vice Chairman George Nikolich, Chairman Mike Reimer Chris Valadez Gordon Wiebe |
Wayne Brandt Jennifer Harmon Bobby Ikemiya Marco Luna Tony Martinez |
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: Gary Van Sickle, gvansickle@caltreefruit.com
| Members | Alternates |
|---|---|
|
Wayne Brandt, Chairman Mark Bybee Bob Dick Mike Jackson Rick Jackson Marco Luna Ryan Metzler Rick Milton Vernon Peterson Mike Reimer Blair Richardson Brent Smittcamp Scott Wallace |
Maria Alvarado Eric Gaarde Eric Wuhl |