“CALIFORNIA GROWN” ELECTS NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP

The Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA), the organization that oversees the popular “California Grown” campaign, recently elected Kasey Cronquist as Chair of the Board. Cronquist is the Executive Director/Ambassador of the California Cut Flower Commission and has served as a member of the BCMA board of directors for the past 3 years. In this new role, Cronquist will work closely with BCMA Executive Director Maile Shanahan Geis to guide the direction of the “California Grown” program. 


“The California cut flower industry has long been a champion of the ‘California Grown’ campaign and I am pleased to expand my role in this effort as board chairman,” said Cronquist. “I look forward to advancing the campaign, and in turn, contributing to the strength of our state’s agricultural industry and economy.”

Also elected to the board leadership was Cher Watte-Angulo, who will fill the Secretary/Treasurer position. Watte-Angulo is the Executive Director of the California Asparagus Commission and has been a member of BCMA’s board of directors for 7 years. Outgoing chairman Chris Zanobini has served as the board’s leader for 5 years and as a board officer since the program’s inception in 2001. Zanobini is the Executive Director of the California Pear Advisory Board and will continue to represent the California pear industry as a member of the BCMA board.

"I am excited to work with Kasey and Cher as our new board officers.” said Shanahan Geis, "The ‘California Grown’ program has seen great success in educating consumers about the importance of choosing California grown products, under the guidance of our past Chairman and we will be sure to continue that success with our new leadership team.”

About The Buy California Marketing Agreement

The Buy California Marketing Agreement is a joint effort of agricultural industry groups representing the products of California’s farms, ranches, forests and fisheries. Working as an advisory board to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, BCMA brings together industry and government resources to increase the awareness, consumption and value of California agricultural products, helping the state’s consumers enjoy the best of the California lifestyle.

The “California Grown” campaign is funded through public and private contributions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and California agricultural organizations.

For more information, visit www.californiagrown.org



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