Voting to fill the board director positions for the Almond Board of California starts tomorrow and runs to the middle of February. Three positions and alternates are up for election.
From the Almond Board of California:
Voting will begin Jan. 28 to select one independent grower member and alternate position, and two independent handler member and alternate positions. These positions will serve as directors for the Almond Board of California (ABC) with the terms beginning on March 1, 2017.
Candidates for the independent grower position are:
Position One, Member (One year term): Mike Mason, Wasco (incumbent)
Position One, Alternate: Brad Klump, Escalon (incumbent)
Candidates for the independent handler positions are:
Position One, Member (Three-year term): Dave Phippen, Manteca (incumbent)
Position One, Alternate: Ron Fisher, Modesto (incumbent)
Position Three, Member (One-year term): Dinesh Bajaj, Chico (petitioner)
Position Three, Alternate: Micah Zeff, Modesto (petitioner) Jeremy Basich, Bakersfield (petitioner)
Ballots and instructions have been mailed to all independent growers whose names are on file with ABC. The Almond Board must receive ballots by Feb. 15, 2017 in order to be counted. If an independent grower does not receive a ballot, one may be obtained by contacting Sue Olson at (209) 343-3224.
As a governing body for the industry, the ABC Board of Directors is comprised of five handler and five grower representatives who set policy and recommend budgets in several major areas including: production research, public relations and advertising, nutrition research, statistical reporting, quality control and food safety.