Articles Tagged with ''CDFA''

Escalating costs are making it harder for California growers to stay in agriculture — a theme echoed repeatedly by panelists at an Agri‑Pulse summit in Sacramento. Nearly two dozen growers, policymakers and industry leaders pointed to regulatory pressures as a major driver of rising expenses.

California Department of Food and Agriculture deputy secretary for legislative affairs, Rachael O’Brien, has left the department to become vice president of government relations at the California Grocers Association. Capespan North America hired Craig Messmer and Ashley Berlinger as sales executives. At least two members of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation board of directors, who were appointed by former Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack to serve four-year terms, were removed last week via a letter from Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce. Ryan Howard was promoted to North American sales director at Family Tree Farms.

Justin Benavidez, who was chief economist for the House Agriculture Committee's Republican staff for the past three years, is succeeding Seth Meyer as USDA chief economist.

Church Brothers Farms hired Greg Corrigan as director of sales, west. He worked at Raley’s Family of Fine Stores for 35 years, ascending the ranks from produce clerk at Bel Air Supermarkets to vice president and senior director of produce and floral. Corrigan also served as CEO of the United Vegetable Cooperative. Loree Dowse was also promoted to vice president of marketing and communications. She has been with Church Brothers Farm since 2023, recently as director of marketing. She earlier held roles with Del Monte Fresh Produce/Mann Packing, Wells Fargo and Porter Novelli International.