Ag Council Members Come Together for 99th Annual Meeting
From L- R: Ag Council Chair Carl Hoff and Redwood Empire Food Bank COO Jean Larson
Agricultural business leaders from throughout the state met in Napa, Calif. this week for Agricultural Council of California’s Annual Meeting, which was held March 7-8 in conjunction with CoBank’s Pacific West Customer meeting.
“There is no doubt that being involved in agriculture in California is challenging,” said Carl Hoff, Ag Council Chairman and president and CEO of Butte County Rice Growers Association, during his opening remarks. “We are lucky to have a staff that comes from agriculture, understands those challenges, and is heavily engaged in the political scene in Sacramento.”
Hoff recognized the work of Ag Council’s staff, including President Emily Rooney and Vice President of Government Affairs Tricia Geringer for their work as he touched on some of the major issues that California farmers and processors are facing, including challenges surrounding water supply and storage, nitrates in drinking water, and the state’s stringent air emission standards.
Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters)
“But, there are bright spots too,” he added. “The outlook for exports continues to be strong, and a weaker U.S. dollar will lead to even more demand for California agricultural products throughout the world, which is good news for Ag Council and its members.”
In her annual address, Emily Rooney, president of Ag Council, also underscored the challenges of working within California’s political climate. “Ninety-five percent of California’s population is considered urban according the U.S. Census Bureau,” she said. “This creates challenges on the legislative front, as many well-intended bills may conflict with good agricultural practices, because many people are several generations removed from the family farm.”
As a result, Ag Council has continued to find innovative ways to educate legislators from diverse backgrounds and make California agriculture relevant in their policy priorities. One of those efforts was the Buy American legislation-SB 730 (Pan)-championed last year by Ag Council and signed into law to establish important steps for the California Department of Education to comply with the federal provision requiring that school districts purchase domestic products for the school lunch program. A California State Audit revealed that all six school districts reviewed did not have adequate policies in place to comply with the Buy American requirement. Every one of the six districts had purchased foreign-sourced products, such as canned peaches from China, and those purchases were not sufficiently documented.
From L-R: Nat DiBuduo, President of the Allied Grape Growers, and Jon Marthedal, Sun-Maid Grower & CoBank Board Member at the dinner
Given that California farmers meet some of the highest worker and environmental standards in the world, our taxpayer dollars should go toward providing this safe, high quality food for school children.
“The Buy American effort is not only important to everyone in California agriculture, but also any parent with a child in public schools,” Rooney stated. “Schools should not be purchasing imported food from countries with questionable food safety standards. Schools should be serving food that is produced in the safest way possible, and that food is produced right here in California.”
Rooney discussed Ag Council’s efforts in other areas, and a more detailed accounting of the organization’s advocacy work can be found in the 2017 Impact Report, which was released during the annual meeting. A full copy can be accessed HERE.
Secretary Karen Ross – Department of Food and Agriculture
California Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) was the keynote speaker during Ag Council’s Annual Dinner held March 7. Her diverse background as the daughter of a high school ag instructor and co-ownership of a walnut orchard with her family means that she brings a more moderate approach to some of the issues impacting her constituents. “We need to collaborate with both sides of the aisle,” she said. “I want to see us achieve the state’s climate goals without pushing agriculture and business out of the state.”
The Assemblywoman closed her remarks by saying, “I want to thank you for the value you provide to California, and the food you provide to the world.”
A highlight of the Annual Dinner, was the presentation of $10,000 to the Redwood Empire Food Bank to assist those affected by the recent fires in Northern California.
Dr. Michael Boland – Professor & Director, University of Minnesota Food Industry Center
The General Session held the following day, and moderated by Jackson Gualco of The Gualco Group, featured California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, who spoke about several of her department’s initiatives to promote California agriculture; Dr. Michael Boland, Professor and Director at the University of Minnesota Food Industry Center who discussed food labeling and consumer trends and how they are shaping production and processing practices; and, Chuck Connor, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
The 99th Annual Meeting of Ag Council concluded with a luncheon that honored Ben Curti as the recipient of the 2018 California Cultivator Award. Curti is a life-long dairyman from the Tulare area. The Curti family has been a member of Land O’Lakes and its predecessor Dairyman’s Creamery Cooperative Association since 1946, with Ben himself serving in both co-ops’ elected leadership, including 15 years as a member of the Corporate Board of Directors for Land O’Lakes, Inc.
From L-R: Ag Council Chair Carl Hoff, Ben Curti, Ag Council President Emily Rooney