California Ag Network

Tag: California Table Grape Commission

  • 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.

  • CA Table Grape Commission Celebrates 50 Years

    CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

    In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the California Table Grape Commission (commission), Secretary Karen Ross of the California Department of Food and Agriculture presented the organization with a resolution commemorating 50 years of service to the state and its residents.

    Among other things, the resolution Secretary Ross presented noted that, “since its first meeting in 1968, the commission has served the public interest by providing the leadership, promotion, and research needed to turn a small struggling industry into a mainstay of the state’s agricultural economy.” Further, Secretary Ross noted that, “in remaining dedicated to its purpose of creating demand for the state’s fresh grape crop the commission has fostered an environment that allowed a disparate group of small growers producing 27 million boxes of fresh grapes for U.S. consumers only to grow into an industry that ships approximately 110 million boxes to 60 countries with a crop value of $1.8 billion.”

    As part of the celebration, Dominick Bianco of Anthony Vineyards was honored for his service on the first board of commissioners from 1968-1971 and for his continuous service since 1986. Marko B. Zaninovich of Sunview Vineyards was recognized for his service from 1971-1974 and for his continuous service since 1991.

    During the meeting at which the recognition took place, the 2018 crop estimate was confirmed to be 114.6 million 19-pound boxes. Reports on the promotion programs underway in the U.S., Canada, and export markets around the world were provided.