Cranney to California Citrus Quality Council

After 15 years at U.S. Apple, Jim Cranney is moving on. Congratulations to Jim's appointment as president of the California Citrus Quality Council. The council's Quality Assurance Program objective is "to make sure our citrus meets sanitary, phytosanitary, pesticide residue tolerances and food safety and food additive standards of domestic and export markets."

From my experience, Cranney is a detail oriented manager who should excel at this important post, vacated by the retiring Wally Ewart, the highly esteemed leader of the group since 2001 who previously spent time with the Northwest Horticultural Council.

You could say that comparing the U.S. Apple Association and the California Citrus Quality would be akin to comparing apples and oranges and you would be right. U.S. Apple may have more heft (about four times the budget of CCQC), but the Auburn, Calif.-based group, like U.S. Apple, is keenly tuned to crop prospects and heavily involved in technical/regulatory and trade issues.

Jim is very comfortable in the nitty gritty issues of growing and marketing and should be a leader with a relatively short learning curve. Congratulations again to Jim and best wishes to Wally Ewart in his retirement.

One interesting tidbit is that both Wally Ewart and Jim Cranney were honored as "Apple Man of the Year" by The Packer and The Grower publications.
Here is the story about Ewart from 1997:

Hugh W. Ewart, known by many as Wally, was honored by THE PACKER and The Grower magazine as the Apple Man of the Year during a Feb. 25 reception at the U.S. Apple Association's annual meeting in Orlando.

As vice president of scientific affairs for the Northwest Horticultural Council, Ewart performs duties for the apple industry, such as speaking, lobbying and giving expert testimony.

He is ``someone who has spent years on the front lines in some of the toughest jobs the industry has ever faced, fighting some of the toughest fights the industry has ever fought,'' THE PACKER's editor Gordon Billingsley said in presenting the 31st annual award.

The apple industry, as well as government officials, turned to Ewart in recent years for clear insight into such critical issues as Alar and E. coli, Billingsley said.

A former teacher, business leader and research chemist who holds a Ph.D. from Yale University, Ewart has spent the last 10 years building a strong political base on issues related to pesticide, government regulations and food safety.

``At this time of heightened government attention and concern, and recent crises in apple and horticultural product contamination, his impact on the debates, issues and regulations have come to the forefront,'' Billingsley said. ``And that impact is likely to grow considerably in the coming year.''

Ewart will play a key role helping to ensure that the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 will be reasonably and fairly implemented, Billingsley said.

``Through the force of knowledge and personality, he has become the right person at the right time for the North American apple industry,'' Billingsley said.

The first apple industry member to be named to the U.S. delegation to the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues, Ewart also is a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's IR-4 Commodity Liaison Committee.

Here is an excerpt from my Apple Man of the Year presentation to Cranney in 2005:

Our winner started in the trenches of the produce industry. His work as a produce buyer, market news reporter and consultant laid the foundation for his first-hand knowledge of the industry.

His work in the Peace Corps before that broadened his view of world.

In the context of 10,000 years of mankind appreciating apples, the man we honor tonight is no doubt one the top 21st century experts in the world about technical issues related to apples.

One former winner said, “I can think of no other individual who has contributed more to the success of the domestic apple industry.”

One nomination noted that our winner has taken the time and effort to thoroughly educate himself on all aspects of fruit production and marketing. The letter continued, “His straightforward and factual method of personal interaction has brought praise and respect from all.”

Your winner has shown a willingness to tackle difficult issues and work to educate the industry and regulators on the facts. That attention to detail draws praise from many. It’s not easy to hold a group of regional players in a highly competitive market and make them collaborate, but your winner has done that.

Aside from his knowledge, your letters reflected an appreciation of his character qualities.

“He is truly loyal as the day is long,” one previous winner said. He is loyal to more than just person he worked for, but also to the apple industry and loyal to the process of improving the industry.

Another nomination referred to our winner’s honesty and non-confrontational approach to sensitive issues. Another mentioned his diligence and attention to detail.

He is considered a watchdog for the industry among regulators without being seen as an antagonist.

He has helped present the apple industry’s position in a thoughtful, reasoned way that resonates inside the Beltway.

Another nomination referred to our winner’s modesty. More than one nomination referred to our winner’s ability to hold U.S. Apple together through two separate transitional periods.

Our winner is a husband and proud father of two adopted children.

In a decade of service, he has become a big part of the apple industry’s family, now serving as U.S. Apple Association vice president. Through the years, his leadership and commitment have made the Outlook conference what it is today.

Please join me in congratulating Jim Cranney, the 2005 Apple Man of the Year.