California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Nominate California Ag Teachers for Golden Owl Award Educator of the Year

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – From Oct. 1, 2019 through Jan. 31, 2020, any student, parent, fellow teacher, or other supporters can nominate their favorite agricultural teacher for a chance to be recognized as one of the best in California.

    Nationwide recently recognized the contributions of 17 Iowa and Ohio agriculture teachers with the 2018-2019 inaugural Golden Owl Award. Nationwide established the award to honor teachers and support them with additional resources to assist their continued educational efforts in preparing the next generation for successful agricultural careers.

    As a result of the positive response from the communities that Golden Owl Award nominees make a difference in, Nationwide expanded the campaign to include California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa and Ohio.

    The 2018-2019 Iowa Ag Educator of the Year has already seen a 30-student increase in his agricultural shop class for the fall—at a high school with just over 300 students. Recipient Brad Taylor, a teacher at Roland-Story High School in Story City, Iowa, credits this growth to the recognition he received through the Golden Owl Award.

    “I think it’s important to be a role model for the students that we have in our classes so they understand what the opportunities are for their futures,” said Taylor. “This award symbolizes the hard work that individuals have put into agriculture education to help students realize what their full potential is.”

    Six finalists in California will receive an individualized plaque and $500 to support their agriculture programs. One finalist will be crowned as California’s Ag Educator of the Year and will receive the Golden Owl Award trophy and $3,000 to help fund future educational efforts.

    “We’re proud to recognize outstanding teachers for their dedication to agricultural education in their farming communities,” said Brad Liggett, president of agribusiness for Nationwide. “This award symbolizes the hard work that individual teachers have put into agricultural education to help students pursue their passion for farming.”

    The Golden Owl Award raises awareness of the importance of agricultural education and the tremendous contributions of teachers. As the number one farm insurer in the United States¹, Nationwide aims to bring attention to the growing need for agricultural educators. This effort is the result of a partnership between Nationwide, the California FFA, California Farm Bureau, Illinois FFA, Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers, Farm Credit Illinois, the Iowa FFA Foundation, Ohio FFA, Ohio Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania FFA, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and Compeer Financial. For more information, visit www.goldenowlaward.com.

     About Nationwide

    Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

  • California Prunes Shine in Fourpoints Energy Bars

    The world comes to California for prunes, and so does energy bar innovator, Fourpoints®. Denver-based Fourpoints is the first-and-only energy bar to feature California Prunes as the star ingredient.

    “The energy bar category is crowded and full of the same old date based and syrup-based bars,” said Kevin Webber, co-founder of Fourpoints. “You have to have a one-of-a-kind product to stand out, and for us, that means a one-of-a-kind ingredient: California Prunes. We created our product out of both passion for outdoor recreation and out of personal need for a low-glycemic, better functioning bar inspired by our families fight with diabetes.”

    Fourpoints is disrupting the energy bar market by taking full advantage of the fresh, naturally sweet taste and exceptional nutritional profile of California Prunes.

    “California Prunes have a low-glycemic index meaning a slower rise in blood sugar that increases satiety to delay hunger during exercise. This makes prunes an ideal energy source,” said Leslie Bonci, registered dietitian, sports nutrition expert, and California Prune Board nutrition consultant. “California Prunes deliver the nutritional clout of macros (carbohydrates and fiber), micros (vitamins and minerals), and phytos (polyphenols). They are neat little bites that add big taste delight.”

    Fourpoints bars are crafted to offer hours of slow-burning energy without the dreaded “spike and crash” typically associated with higher-glycemic bars that make up much of the category, adds Webber.

    “We use only the highest-quality ingredients, like prunes – exclusively sourced from California – to make Fourpoints bars,” said Webber. “Those seeking action and adventure deserve an energy bar that delivers clean energy, tastes amazing, and is easily enjoyed on-the-go, too. Fourpoints and California Prunes deliver on both.”

    Fourpoints & California Prunes Co-brand New Packaging

    California Prunes are such an important ingredient on the inside of the bars, Fourpoints features the California Prunes brand on the outside, too. Each package of Fourpoints energy bars highlights the new California Prunes brand.

    “It’s refreshing to partner with a company that truly believes in the power of prunes,” said Donn Zea, Executive Director, California Prune Board. “Fourpoints not only recognizes the remarkable benefits that prunes offer but they’ve gone the extra mile to feature the California Prunes brand on packaging in prime real estate near the list of ingredients where health-conscious consumers gravitate.”

    California Prunes are the best prunes in the world due in large part to the ideal growing conditions, high environmental standards and craftsmanship used in growing and drying the crop to create a premium prune with legendary sweetness. California is the world’s largest prune producer and the most reliable source in the industry.

    “The California Prunes brand represents all that makes California Prunes exceptional. It’s more than a logo and a tag line, it’s a statement about being the best,” said Zea. “California Prunes are a versatile and functional ingredient making them particularly attractive for manufacturers, such as Fourpoints.”

    In addition to the California Prunes brand integration on the Fourpoints packaging, California Prunes and Fourpoints are partnering on strategic integration opportunities including co-promotion via special events, social media outreach, sampling, and more. Fourpoints will be on center stage at this weeks’ Naturally Boulder Annual Autumn Pitch Slam.

    Fourpoints energy bars are available nationally at REI, regionally in the Denver area at Safeway and King Soopers, and on the Fourpoints website at www.fourpointsbar.com. They come in five unique flavors including Alpine Apple Pie, Backcountry Banana Bread, Mountain Mocha Espresso, Powder Day PB&J, and Trailhead Gingerbread and can be purchased by the box of 12 for $36.00 USD. This fall their flagship line converts to 100% hemp-based protein while introducing a hemp-free tactical line using whey protein isolate for active duty military and professional athletes. For more information about California Prunes, visit www.californiaprunes.org.

    ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD

    Created in 1952, The California Prune Board aims to amplify the premium positioning and top-of-mind awareness of California Prunes through advertising, public relations, promotion, nutrition research, crop management and sustainability research, and issues management. The California Prune Board represents approximately 800 prune growers and 28 prune, juice, and ingredient handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

    ABOUT FOURPOINTS

    Made from 100% real food and designed to offer hours of slow-burn energy without the sugar spikes and crashes, Colorado based Fourpoints® made the energy bar better than it has to be so you can perform better when you need to!  The only prune-based bars on the market are available in five unique flavors to elevate your performance. BONUS:  THEY DON’T FREEZE! Follow us with #WHEREVERYOUPLAY and help us to protect the places we play!

  • $3 Million Program to Train Tomorrow’s Plant Scientists

    If you’re eating fruits, nuts, grains, or vegetables in a few years, you’ll likely owe a debt of gratitude to UC Riverside. The university has created a program to transition today’s undergraduates into professional scientists solving tomorrow’s farming challenges.

    The program, called Plants-3D, will train students to discover, design, and deploy biology and engineering solutions to the projected problem of massive-scale food insecurity due to climate change. 

    “It’s exciting that 50 students, many of whom are traditionally underrepresented in academia and the biotech sector, will now learn to use the most cutting-edge technologies in biology and engineering to help increase crop yields and nutritional value, while also helping themselves professionally,” said Julia Bailey-Serres, a UC Riverside professor of genetics who is leading the new program. 

    The program was made possible by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship program. It will fund a total of 50 students who will receive academic and entrepreneurial training, as well as mentorship and stipends to help them travel to professional conferences.

    Plants-3D will foster a synthetic biology approach to solving agricultural problems, meaning students will learn to design biological systems that do not already exist in the natural world. This approach will enable plants to tolerate increased levels of stress due to drought, flooding, and extreme heat, as well as boost protection from pests, pathogens, and invasive plants. 

    An example project would be the discovery and design of chemical compounds to attract beneficial microbes that could reduce plant requirements for fertilizer. 

    “Not only will our trainees help improve crop resilience and yields, but many plant metabolites they discover will have applications in other fields as well, including medicine and nutrition,” said Plants-3D co-leader Ian Wheeldon, associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering.

    The program has already established relationships with companies for internships, helping ensure participants will go on to leadership positions in agricultural fields after graduate school. 

    The program will provide opportunities for UC Riverside undergraduates to participate in team research, enhancing their candidacy for graduate programs and jobs in agriculture and biotechnology. 

    Agriculture and related industries provide nearly 10% of U.S. employment opportunities, but the number of students graduating with degrees that would prepare them for these jobs is not meeting industry demand. Nearly 40% of positions are projected to go unfilled, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

    Making the problem even more dire is the rapid pace of retirement from the current agricultural workforce, which is the oldest and least diverse of all scientific workforces in the U.S., the USDA reported.

    “There is a giant, gaping need for scientists who can not only update the aging agricultural technologies of today, but who can find solutions to the challenges that climate change will pose for the farmers of tomorrow,” said Sean Cutler, UCR professor of plant cell biology. “This program will definitely help fill that need.” 

    About UC Riverside

    The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California’s diverse culture, UCR’s enrollment is more than 24,000 students. The campus opened a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of almost $2 billion. To learn more, email news@ucr.edu.

  • Reclamation awards $1 million in CALFED grants to improve water reliability, enhance environment

    The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a total of $1 million in CALFED Water Use Efficiency grants to two California projects that will conserve around 4,000 acre-feet annually and improve infrastructure for fiscal year 2020. Combined with local cost-share contributions, these projects are expected to implement about $2.7 million in water management improvements during the next two years.

    The two selected projects are described below:

    Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District $500,000 grant. The district will install a new 27-inch pipeline along a 1.5-mile alignment in Shafter, connect a pipeline to an existing neighboring district pipeline and then bank this water for future drought. This available water will help mitigate the district’s on-farm groundwater pumping and alleviate some of the groundwater basin overdraft. Annual water savings will conserve around 3,000 acre-feet (or about 978,000 gallons); lifetime water savings will be 144,000 acre-feet (or about 46.9 billion gallons) over the project’s 50-year life. Project cost is $1,559,787 with a federal cost-share of $500,000.

    South San Joaquin Municipal Utility District $500,000 grant. The district will construct 40 acres of spreading ponds and install a recovery well within its boundaries to provide district operational flexibility and absorb surface water when available for recharge and irrigation recovery in peak-demand months or dry periods. Annual water savings will conserve around 1,100 acre-feet (or about 358 million gallons); lifetime water savings will be 55,800 acre-feet (or about 18 billion gallons) over the project’s 50-year life. Project cost is $1,162,926 with a federal cost-share of $500,000.

    These projects will contribute to CALFED Bay-Delta Program’s objectives of improving ecosystem health, water supply reliability and water quality. California and federal agencies are partners in the 30-year program (2000-2030). Reclamation’s competitive selection process prioritized projects that addressed statewide CALFED goals.

    Fiscal year 2020 CALFED funding is available through Funding Opportunity Announcement BOR-MP-F002. Applications are due by Dec. 2, 2019, through www.grants.gov. Contact Anna Sutton for more information on the Water Use Efficiency Program at asutton@usbr.gov or 916-978-5214 (TTY 800-877-8339).

  • Travel California Wine Country’s Back Roads: Southern California Spotlight

    SAN FRANCISCO — Wine Institute concludes its California Wine Country Back Roads series this month with highlights from Southern California wine country, extending south from Ventura County to San Diego County. California is home to some of the world’s most famous wine destinations. Yet, even the high-profile appellations have less traveled wine roads, featuring gorgeous scenery, acclaimed wines and fewer visitors. Before the warm weather slips away, explore the off-the-beaten-path wine roads and wineries among the surf and sand in Southern California.

    Robert Holmes photo, courtesy Wine Institute.

    TASTE: Just a short distance from Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County, Temecula Valley has been growing winegrapes since the late 18thcentury. With more than 40 wineries within its borders and 2,500 acres under vine, Temecula is Southern California’s largest wine-producing region. The warm climate makes it well suited to growing Syrah and Tempranillo, as well as Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. The De Portola Wine Trail, just south of Rancho California Road, is set on the valley’s rural, equestrian side, while the off-the-beaten path Calle Contento Wine Trail offers sweeping views.

    Celebrated as the birthplace of California winemaking, San Diego is where Franciscan monks planted the state’s first grapevines in 1769 and made wines for mass at Mission San Diego de Alcala, California’s first mission. San Diego County boasts more than 100 wineries—most of them small and family owned. With a Mediterranean climate rich in microclimates that allow vintners to grow approximately 60 different grape varieties, the region is best known for its Merlot and Chardonnay. San Diego is also famous for its long beaches, making it one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations.

    In Ventura County, one hour north of Los Angeles, find the Ventura County Wine Trail. The route features nearly a dozen wineries, located a few minutes away from each other in a relaxed, coastal setting.

    The scenic Malibu Coast Wine Trail offers more than 50 vineyards and seven tasting rooms, with the chance to sample wines influenced by the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains.

    East of Los Angeles, the Cucamonga Valley was one of the state’s dominant winegrowing regions during the first half of the 20th century, and now hosts a handful of historic wineries, mainly producing Old-Vine Zinfandel and Port-style wines.

    Photo Credit: Robert Holmes photo, courtesy Wine Institute.

    TOUR: Sample and sip your way around Ventura’s historic downtown at the annual Ventura Winter Wine Walk or explore the Ventura Pier Beachfront Promenade, one of California’s oldest wooden piers, built in 1872.

    In Malibu, stroll along a wide stretch of sand at Zuma Beach or join fellow foodies at The Food Event on Oct. 13, showcasing 40 of L.A.’s best restaurants and 20 boutique wineries.

    Take an e-bike tour of Temecula Valley’s wine country, glide over vineyards in a hot air balloon or sample wines from more than 30 producers, plus local restaurants, at Temecula’s annual CRUSH event on Sept. 28.

    Robert Holmes photo, courtesy Wine Institute.

    Explore the historic Gaslamp Quarter’s shopping, galleries and dining, paired with a wine-focused San Diego Food and Drinks Tours walking excursion. Moving inland, visit the gold-mining town of Julian or enjoy locally made wine, food and art in the town of Ramona—15 minutes away from the world-famous San Diego Zoo—at the Ramona Art & Wine Festival Nov. 2.

    For more information on lodging, dining and upcoming events, see: San Diego Tourism Authority, San Diego Vintners Association, Temecula Valley Winegrowers and Ventura County Wine Trail.

    For all of the wine regions included in this series, use the discovercaliforniawines.com interactive map to search wineries by amenities such as tours, gardens and picnic areas, and view winery events around the state.

    To see Wine Institute’s Back Roads guides to other California wine regions, visit https://discovercaliforniawines.com/media-trade/news.

    About Wine Institute

    Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group for California wineries, which produce 80 percent of U.S. wine. As the nation’s number one state for wine and food tourism and 3,900 wineries, California attracts 24 million visitors to its wine regions each year.

    Robert Holmes photo, courtesy Wine Institute.

  • Investigating Olive Anthracnose in California

    A new research project which will investigate the occurrence and distribution of olive anthracnose in California has been added to the list of approved projects for the Olive Oil Council of California’s 2019/2020 fiscal year. This project will be led by Florent Trouillas, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis, Kearney Agriculture Research and Extension Center. The budget for this project is $14,849.

     

    Olive anthracnose poses a threat to olive orchards worldwide. Anthracnose is a fungal disease that can cause yield loss and impact the quality of olive oils made from affected fruit. The most common symptoms of the disease include fruit rot and mummification along with fruit prematurely falling to the ground. Other symptoms include yellowing of leaves, defoliation and dieback of twigs and branches.Perhaps the biggest problem for California olive growers is that the occurrence of the disease is unknown in the state, although olive orchards in the Sacramento Valley have recently shown symptoms resembling olive anthracnose. Therefore, the objectives of this research project are:-Determine the occurrence and distribution of olive anthracnose in California. Identify what Colletotrichum (a genus of fungi species) are associated with olive anthracnose in California.

    -Determine whether the identified Colletotrichum species causes disease to main oil olive cultivars.

     

    To accomplish these objectives, surveys for olive anthracnose will be conducted in oil olive orchards throughout the Central Valley and fungal strains will be isolated from symptomatic tissues sampled from surveyed orchards. Those strains identified as resembling Colletotrichum will be studied further and final identification will be determined using DNA based techniques. Lastly, laboratory studies will be conducted to identify the ability of the supposed disease-causing agents to cause disease in main oil super-high-density olive cultivars such as Arbequina, Arbosana and Koroneiki.

     

    Should Colletotrichum not be isolated and identified from symptomatic tissues sampled from surveyed orchards, Trouillas will work to identify and record what pathogens are causing the symptoms observed in orchards. These efforts will help the industry to record the geographical and seasonal occurrence of diseases of oil olives within the Central Valley.

     

  • First Genome of Spotted Lanternfly Built from a Single Insect

    Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists, in cooperation with Pacific Biosciences and Penn State University, have published the first genome of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) in the journal Gigascience and they did it from a single caught-in-the-wild specimen.

    Not only is it the first published genome for this pest, but no closely related species has had its genome sequenced, making the data even more important, according to entomologist Scott M. Geib with the ARS Daniel K Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.

    SLF, a native of China, Bangladesh and Vietnam, was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has now spread to Virginia, Maryland and New York. This invasive pest has a taste for almonds, apples, apricots, grapes, peaches, blueberries and hops as well as hardwoods such as oak, walnut, and poplar. Various estimates put the potential economic damage in the billions of dollars, if the SLF becomes widely established in the United States.

    “Having the genome for this pest opens the door to a better understanding of its biology and behavior, and makes coming up with potential control methods much more likely to happen, such as developing a lure for a trap through understanding the insect’s olfactory genes, or exploring avenues such as gene editing or RNAi,” said Geib.

    While having the SLF genome is critical for the management and control of this invasive pest, the approach taken to obtain the genetic data is an achievement of remarkable note as well. For the first time, all of the DNA required to generate a whole genome sequence was taken from a single insect picked from a tree in the wild in Reading, Pennsylvania, across the street from the Reading Pagoda on Mt. Penn.

    One hurdle for deciphering this species’ genome is its relatively large genome size, at about 2.2 billion base pairs. Typically, with previous sequencing systems, many sequencing runs would have been needed to do the complete job, with each run using up the available DNA for the organism being sequenced.

    So often to have sufficient DNA for a complete genome sequence, many organisms would need to be pooled, introducing more opportunities for errors to be generated. To avoid such potential for errors, the subjects—especially insects—often have to be raised in colonies and inbred.

    “In cooperation with Pacific Biosciences and using their new sequencing platform—the PacBio Sequel II—that produces 10 times the data from a single sequencing run, we were able to generate sufficient coverage from just a single specimen. This allows for a very fast turn-around of data and assemblies as well as lowers cost, in this case under $2,000 in consumable supplies, not including the purchase price of the sequencing instrument of course,” explained Geib.

    For genome completeness, and since there aren’t many related genomes to compare that of the SLF to, the team checked a set of “core genes” that should be present exactly one time in all insects and verified how many of these were found in this genome project. In this case, they found about 97 percent of these single copy core genes, with a very low rate of duplication.

    “Sequencing such a large insect genome quickly and showing there is no need to pull the insect into a colony raises the feasibility that we can complete the Ag100Pest Project,” Geib said. The ARS Ag100Pest initiative is focused on deciphering the genomes of 100 insect species that are most destructive to crops and livestock and that are projected to have profound bioeconomic impacts to agriculture and the environment. “Now, with this system, doing 100 or even 1,000 genomes is not unrealistic,” he added.

    The ability to get a complete genome from a small amount of DNA also makes it practical to consider sequencing the genomes of physically tiny insects without having to catch or raise a large number of any one species. That expands the list of insects that may be genetically sequenced.

    By Kim Kaplan, USDA-ARS

    The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

  • Western Growers Board Selects Dave Puglia as Next President and CEO

    The Western Growers Board of Directors has unanimously selected Dave Puglia as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Puglia will succeed current President and CEO Tom Nassif, who is retiring after 18 years as a forceful and effective leader in the nation’s agriculture industry, on February 1, 2020.

    “Fifteen years ago, Dave came to Western Growers with an extraordinary pedigree in California politics, having served in senior roles on statewide political campaigns and in public service in addition to private sector experience,” said Ratto Bros. President and Western Growers Chairman of the Board, Ron Ratto. “Since joining our organization, Dave has demonstrated an unyielding passion for our members, a deep understanding of the issues facing Western agriculture – water policy, in particular – and an unrivaled capacity for leading our association and industry into the next decade and beyond.”

    “Words are not adequate to express how deeply honored I am to be entrusted with this great opportunity and responsibility,” stated Puglia. “The people of this industry welcomed me into their hearts from the first day on the job, rain or shine. As their advocate, I am as energized and optimistic as ever about the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

    “Outgoing President & CEO Tom Nassif”

    The Western Growers Board of Directors engaged in an extensive nationwide search to ensure that Western Growers’ leadership in federal and state public policy would carry forward and grow while continuing to provide innovative business services to the association’s members. The Western Growers Family of Companies is built on the strength of 445 dedicated employees providing expert advocacy and services across multiple business lines.

    “The mentoring and support I have received from Tom Nassif and so many current and past directors has been amazing,” continued Puglia. “My talented and dedicated Western Growers colleagues have also helped propel me on this journey, and there is no better professional staff in the entire agriculture industry. We are ready to go.”

    Puglia will inherit an association that experienced a renaissance under Nassif’s leadership. Over the course of nearly two decades, Nassif elevated the national prominence of Western Growers and established the organization as a recognized leader in food safety, labor and immigration, water, technology and innovation, international trade and many other areas impacting the viability of Western Growers members.

    “Tom Nassif was the right leader at the right time for our organization and the industry,” said Ratto. “The strength and influence our association enjoys today is a credit to his intelligence, work ethic and personal charm. Our membership owes Tom a debt of gratitude for employing his fierce devotion and incomparable talents on our collective behalf.”

    “My service to Western Growers and the fresh produce industry has been a fulfilling culmination to my career,” stated Nassif. “Every day since 2002, my inspiration has been derived from the hard-working, innovative and ethical family farmers who comprise our membership. I am proud of the major strides we have taken as an industry during my tenure, and it brings me great satisfaction knowing that the future of our association is secure in the hands of Dave Puglia.”

    Puglia joined Western Growers in 2005 and currently serves as Executive Vice President, overseeing four departments in addition to the organization’s non-profit charitable foundation and its political action committees. He is also intimately involved in the internal operations of the organization. Prior to joining Western Growers, he was Vice President of APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs consulting firm, and previously served for seven years in the California Attorney General’s Office, first as Press Secretary and later as Director of Public Affairs and Communications.

    About Western Growers:

    Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers. Connect with and learn more about Western Growers on our Twitter and Facebook.

     

  • California Table Grape Commission Adds New Marketing Director

    Fresno, CA – Maria Montalvo is the new marketing director of retail and foodservice promotion for the California Table Grape Commission. Montalvo’s responsibilities include leading the in-store promotion initiatives and communication strategies needed to help move California table grapes through the U.S. and Canadian markets.

    “We are very excited Maria has joined the team,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the commission. “Maria’s background and experience in promotion and sales, and her extensive work promoting products in the Hispanic community will be key to the development of retail promotional campaigns in the seasons to come.“

    Montalvo has 15 years of experience in marketing, promotion, and sales. Maria joins the commission from Sinclair Systems International where she served as the global marketing manager. According to Nave, Montalvo will primarily focus on developing retail promotion and communication strategies to drive California table grape sales. Montalvo will be part of a four-member retail team and will manage numerous retail accounts.

    Montalvo is a California native, born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley. She is a graduate of Fresno State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a focus in international business.

  • Normal Volume Projected for CA Table Grape Crop, Supplies into January

    The California Table Grape Commission recently assessed crop volume and projected a final total of 109 million 19-pound boxes with shipments continuing into January.

    With 40 to 50 percent of the California table grape crop typically shipping after October 1, Kathleen Nave, president of the commission, notes that grapes are very definitely a fall and early winter fruit. “Grapes from California are stunningly beautiful, full of flavor and phytonutrients, and are both a healthy, anytime snack and a simple, awe-inspiring ingredient,” said Nave. Suggesting that fall is the time to search out new uses and try varieties that are unfamiliar, Nave recommends checking out the extensive collection of traditional and on-trend usage ideas at www.grapesfromcalifornia.com.

    In speaking about the crop, Nave noted that in July California table grape growers thought they had the third largest crop in history hanging in their vineyards but, recent assessments indicate the crop is in the normal range of 109 million 19-pound boxes, similar in size to the crops of 2014 through 2017. Noting that there comes a point when retailers can offer imported grapes to their customers instead of sticking with California-grown grapes, Nave said the commission will continue working with retailers to promote the crop and will encourage them to carry California grapes into January.