AGC Latest Happenings
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AGC Growers, Partner and Associates!
AGC, created in 2023 by growers tired of failed CAC marketing campaigns, the flood of cheaper imported avocados, and declining farm gate pricing trends for California fruit. As the 2024 avocado season gets underway, the industry experts suggest prices may be better this year due to fewer expected volumes from California and Mexico. However, that does not change AGC’s purpose, as the California avocado industry’s complex issues have evolved over the last 20 plus years and the threat to our industry necessitates urgent and sustained actions by us as growers.
The AGC board has been working diligently on the following member priorities:
Increase AGC membership. No doubt, there is strength in numbers. The larger our membership, the bigger our influence with legislatures, industry organizations, and with anyone we engage in collective bargaining negotiations. Imagine what we can do as a united avocado alliance!
Initiated packing house discussions to negotiate higher 2024 pricing with our input cost and fruit quality in mind. If packing houses get paid for their cost and their service quality, why shouldn’t we?
Start discussions with amenable fertilizer vendors to negotiate input cost discounts for fertilizer and other critical production services.
Marketing opportunities for our fruit.
Recruiting and Campaigning for CA only grower candidates, and not importers, to be elected to upcoming open CAC (California Avocado Commission) and HAB (Hass Avocado Board) Producer Board seats.
Reaching out to other CA specialty farming organizations facing similar challenges, to identify synergies and collaboration opportunities.
Continue to inform CAC and HAB of grower issues and priorities:
Overhaul outdated CAC laws, which allow growers/importers to hold CAC producer seats.
Request CAC to allocate funding for a preliminary mini feasibility study (estimated cost $10,000) to evaluate viable trade remedies.
Support and advocate for a HAB referendum to give growers an opportunity to express their collective positions and to review the organization’s performance and priorities against its original charter's purpose. Since its inception in 2000, no referendum has taken place; 30% of HAB assessment paying members can call for a HAB referendum.
Consulting with CDFA on questions related to CAC’s conflict of interest and other CAC laws.
Continuing administration and development of AGC infrastructure, members, and sponsors.
Currently AGC has over 200 active supporters and participants. Our goal is to increase our dues-paying membership roster to over 100. AGC monthly meetings have had an excellent turnout, records of 50+ attendees per meeting, but to date we have only 21 paid memberships. A HUGE thanks to those supporters who have paid their membership dues and joined us in our cause! Increased membership means we can continue AGC’s momentum. We can put our collective bargaining power and strength behind novel solutions to save our farms from the threat of unencumbered imports, and rising input cost.
As a few growers mentioned in our 1/25 monthly meeting,
“AGC dues are worth it, and it cost us no more than a round of golf, happy hour tab, or an evening out.”
AGC Membership
Recruit - "Tell Your Friends and neighbors”
Help us meet our membership goal by becoming an AGC dues-paying member, and by helping us recruit as many growers, partners, associates, you know to join in our mission. You can join as a voting member for as little as $140 or as an Associate non-voting member and pay-what-you-can!
Click here to print or send an AGC recruitment flyer.
Click here to review full membership benefits and sponsorship options.
If you have trouble with any of the above links; or if you wish to become a sponsor, please send us an email with your phone number to avocadogrowersca@gmail.com, and someone will get back to you promptly.
There are three types of AGC membership to choose from:
Note: If you are an Incorporating member who previously donated to AGC, you do not have to pay an initiation fee.
Grower (annual dues $140 + suggested $40 new member initiation fee): For exclusive California avocado growers and/or packers, who wish to have voting privileges and to participate in AGC’s price and input cost negotiations.
Partner (annual dues $75 + suggested $40 new member initiation fee): For industry partners who provide goods and services to avocado growers. Non-voting member.
Associate (annual dues pay-what-you-can - any contribution is appreciated): For AGC supporters who wish to stay informed and engaged. Non-voting member.
Reminder: To vote at AGC’s February’s annual meeting for the ratification of the board of directors, you need to pay your grower membership by February 19, 2024.
CLICK TO BEC0ME A MEMBER: JOIN AGC!
AGC & CAC MEETINGS
Febraury 29, 2024 - AGC's Next Monthly Meeting
Please mark your calendars for our next Business and Annual meeting which will be held on February 29th, from 10 am-noon, at Pala Casino. Feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think would like to attend.
AGC, Inc First Annual Meeting & Board Ratification
This February’s meeting will be AGC Inc.’s first Annual meeting. At this meeting all voting members in good standing (Growers dues paid by February 19, 2024), will vote on ratifying AGC’s current elected and appointed Board of Directors.
Current AGC Directors: Dan Coxe, Founding member, Chairman, Joanne Robles-Swanson, Founding member, President, Ohannes Karaoghlanian, Founding member, Vice President, Tina Wolferd, Incorporating member, Secretary, Matt Nelson, Incorporating member, Chief Financial Officer. Directors’ biographies and statements will be distributed in AGC’s next upcoming 2/16 newsletter.
January 25, 2024, Meeting Highlights
Our January 25th meeting was well attended by current and new members. We had an informative, lively, and productive growers exchange relating to AGC’s priorities and speakers. We also reviewed our AGC expenses to date related to our startup cost and website. Click here to view AGC’s powerpoint presentation for this meeting. We want to extend a special thanks to our speakers and sponsors below:
Marko Macura, AgroThrive, Inc., Organic Bio-Fertilizers: Pre-digested fertilizers that are fast acting. Click here to view information related to this presentation.
Contact Marko at: Marko Macura | Dir. Sales & Marketinga: AgroThrive, Inc. | 26783 Old Stage Rd. | Gonzales, CA 93926 |p: (408) 500-8552
Ty Evans, Eurosemillas, and Mary Lu Arpaia, Ph.D., UCNR, Horticulturist, – High level overview of New ‘Luna’ avocado variety. Click here to view information related to this presentation.
Contact Ty at: Terrance "Ty" Evans, California Project Manager for Green Motion Avocados @ Eurosemillas, S.A |tevans@greenmotionavocados.com
Febraury 22, 2024 - CAC Board Hybrid Meeting
Note: Agenda Item #9 - CAC to Petition USDA for a HAB Referendum, as requested by AGC.
We encourage as many growers as possible to attend this meeting and for growers to voice their preference on agenda item #9. If you can't attend the meeting, send an email, or call your CAC District representatives to let them know your position.
It is vital that growers show a strong presence at all CAC Board meetings, to voice their opinions, and to participate in any agenda item discussions prior to the Board voting.
Unfortunately, the 8:30 am meeting start time at the Oxnard location, is not convenient for the Southern District growers to participate in person. If you would like to attend in person and you would like a later start time, please contact your CAC District Representatives to determine if they can request moving the meeting time.
Click here find and to contact your CAC district representative
Click here to view the CAC meeting agenda and location