Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw an uptick in member voting during the 2021-2022 board election process. Thank you to all who participated in the selection of your district representatives.
We are pleased to announce the results of the 2021-2022 Western Growers Board of Directors elections. The following members have been elected by the membership to serve a two-year term beginning November 2020.
D-1 All Arizona except Yuma County
Steve Martori, Martori Farms
D-2 Yuma County (Arizona)
Robert Barkley, Barkley Ag Enterprises
Alex Muller, Pasquinelli Produce Company
D-4 Imperial County and Blythe
Lawrence Cox, Coastline Family Farms
J.P. LaBrucherie, LaBrucherie Produce
D-5 Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego Counties
A.G. Kawamura, Orange County Produce
D-6 Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
George Adam, Innovative Produce
John Jackson, Beachside Produce
Craig Reade, Bonipak Produce
Ryan Talley, Talley Farms
D-7 North San Joaquin and Northern California
Stephen Danna, Danna Farms
Ronald Ratto, Ratto Bros
D-8 Ventura County
Stephen Barnard, Mission Produce
George Boskovich, Boskovich Farms
Thomas Deardorff, Deardorff Family Farms
D-9 Kern County
Kevin Andrew, Illume Agriculture
Edwin Camp, D.M. Camp & Sons
Catherine Fanucchi, Tri-Fanucchi Farms
Brandon Grimm, Grimmway Farms
Rob Yraceburu, Wonderful Orchards
D-10 Watsonville, Gilroy, Hollister, Santa Cruz
John Manfre, Frank Capurro and Son
Dominic Muzzi, Muzzi Family Farms
D-11 Monterey County
Bardin Bengard, Bengard Ranch
Rodney Braga, Braga Ranch
Sammy Duda, Duda Farm Fresh Foods
David Gill, Rio Farms
Tom Nunes, The Nunes Company
Bruce Taylor, Taylor Farms California
D-12 East San Joaquin Valley
Loren Booth, Booth Ranches
Carol Chandler, Chandler Farms
Harold McClarty, HMC Farms
Thomas Mulholland, Mulholland Citrus
D-13 Riverside and San Bernardino
Franz DeKlotz, Peter Rabbit Farms
Albert Keck, Hadley Date Gardens
D-14 West San Joaquin Valley
Stephen Patricio, Westside Produce
Stuart Woolf, Woolf Farming & Processing
Affiliated Directors
Frank Maconachy, Ramsay Highlander
Sonny Rodriguez, The Growers Company
At the November 10 Board Meeting, the Board of Directors also confirmed the appointments of several individuals who will serve as Directors at Large on the 2021-2022 Board.
Directors at Large
Alexandra Allen, Main Street Produce
Neill Callis, Turlock Fruit Company
John D’Arrigo, D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California
Mark Nickerson, Prime Time International
Eric Reiter, Reiter Affiliated Companies
Will Rousseau, Rousseau Farming Company
Due to the “lost year” arising from the coronavirus pandemic, the Western Growers Board, during its July 30, 2020 board meeting, unanimously voted to extend the terms of the 2020 Executive Committee for one year, through November 2021. Accordingly, Ryan Talley of Talley Farms will continue to preside over the association as Chairman of the Board, serving alongside Senior Vice Chairman Albert Keck of Hadley Date Gardens, Vice Chairman Stuart Woolf of Woolf Farming & Processing, Treasurer Carol Chandler of Chandler Farms and Executive Secretary Vic Smith of JVSmith Companies.
One of the keys to the longevity and success of our organization has been the quality and character of the men and women who have served on the Western Growers Board of Directors. We thank all the volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and resources by serving on the Board for the benefit of the fresh produce industry. We truly have the best Board in the business!
Once again, thank you to all the candidates who placed their names of the ballot, and to all our members who exercised their important right in casting their votes in the 2021-2022 Board of Director elections.
