The Grower-Shipper Association of Central California is a small but enormously important and influential association in the produce trade. It has just elected its new officers and board:
Salinas, California — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ELECTION OF 2007-2008 OFFICERS
AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The ballots to elect the Board of Directors for the Grower-Shipper Association for the 2007-2008 were counted. The elected Directors met and elected the following officers for the year.
The 2007-2008 Officers of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California are:
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Chairwoman Kay Filice Filice Farms Hollister, California |
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Vice Chair Dennis Donohue European Vegetable Specialties Salinas, California |
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Treasurer Bill Moncovich California Giant, Inc. Watsonville, California |
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President James W. Bogart |
In addition to the Chairwoman, Vice Chair and Treasurer, the Board of Directors for the Grower-Shipper Association for 2007-2008 are:
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Nick Azcona Azcona Harvesting, LLC Greenfield, California |
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Rodney Braga Braga Ranch Soledad, California |
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Steve Church Church Brothers, LLC Salinas, California |
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Andrew Cumming Metz Fresh, LLC King City, California |
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Sammy Duda Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc. Salinas, California |
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Will Feliz River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC Salinas, California |
Ken Higashi
Easton Enterprises, Inc.
Salinas, California
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Lorri Koster Mann Packing Co., Inc. Salinas, California |
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David Martella Martella Farming Company Salinas, California |
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Joseph Pezzini Ocean Mist Farms Castroville, California |
Particularly significant is the choice of Kay Filice as the new Chairwoman of the Board to replace outgoing Chairman, Joe Pezzini who, in addition to his responsibilities at Ocean Mist Farms, is a little busy chairing the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Board.
Kay would be a substantial resource for the produce industry at any time. Not coming from a typical ag background, she brings new ideas and new ways of thinking. Kay grew up in the Midwest and worked in marketing with IBM. She got involved in the industry in the best way — through true love — when she married a farmer from Hollister.
When he passed away eight years ago, Kay stepped in and ran the family farm and business. Her intelligence and tenacity, her uplifting spirit in the face of hardship and sadness, won her the respect of her peers in the ag community as evidenced by her election to chair the Grower-Shipper Association.
Although Kay’s qualities would qualify her for leadership at any time, in this moment of media awareness, she is telegenic, calm, level-headed and a builder of consensus.
When Joe Pezzini, preparing to pass the gavel, introduced Kay, he said what many in the room were thinking: “Well, after 77 years we finally got it right.”
Congratulations to Kay and to all the board members and officers.
