Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Monday, June 2, 2008

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.

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Save the date

Big Apple of the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group was the first to flag this Federal Register entry:


Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. This notice sets forth the schedule and location for the meeting.

DATES: Monday, September 8, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Designated Federal Official,
USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. Telephone: (202)
690-0182. Facsimile: (202) 720-0016. E-mail:
andrew.hatch@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet
the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. The Committee was re-chartered in July 2003, June 2005 and again in May 2007 with new members appointed by USDA from industry nominations. AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Robert C. Keeney, serves as the Committee's Executive Secretary.

Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government agencies affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon to participate in the Committee's meetings as determined by the Committee Chairperson. AMS is giving notice of the Committee meeting to the public so that they may attend and present their recommendations. Reference the DATES and ADDRESSES section of this announcement for the time and place of the meeting.
Topics of discussion at the Committee meeting will include: The Market News reporting of fruits and vegetables, Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act license fees, the restructuring of fresh fruit and vegetable grading services at terminal markets, USDA crop insurance programs, and Maximum Residue Levels for pesticides in food.

Those parties that would like to speak at the meeting should register on or before August 29, 2008. To register as a speaker, please e-mail your name, affiliation, business address, e-mail address, and phone number to Mr. Andrew Hatch at: andrew.hatch@usda.gov. or facsimile to (202) 720-0016. Speakers who have registered in advance receive priority. Groups and individuals may submit comments for the Committee's consideration to the same e-mail address. The meeting will be recorded, and information about obtaining a transcript will be
provided at the meeting.


TK: Check out coverage in The Packer this week about the restructuring of grading services at terminal markets; five federal offices will be closed and 11 others will see reductions in staff.

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