By Diego Cruz, Director of Grower Services
CCM is committed to providing growers with valuable resources, services, and opportunities to stay informed and connected. I wanted to share a brief update on some of the services and resources CCM offers to growers and members and what we’ve been up to lately.
Connecting directly with growers has been a key component of CCM’s work, especially in recent months. We recently held grower meetings in Sanger, Exeter and Visalia (D1), and we will host meetings later this month in Mecca (D3), Santa Paula (D2), and Bakersfield (D1). These meetings offer an opportunity to discuss grower concerns, share industry and regulatory updates, and keep CCM focused on the issues that matter most to our members. We hope you can join us, as these meetings are also a great opportunity to meet CCM’s new CEO, Tom Danowski, who is eager to meet our members and industry partners.
Member support allows us to advocate for California’s citrus growers, provide valuable resources and services, and advance the long-term viability of our industry. We encourage members to ensure their accounts have accurate, up-to-date contact information, packinghouse affiliations, acreage and varietal information. Accurate records help CCM stay connected with members and better serve the industry.
We will soon distribute a Membership Confirmation Form to all grower members to confirm or update the information we have on file. Members are also welcome to submit updates beforehand by email, phone, or in person.
In addition to these efforts, I also want to remind growers and members of some of our available services and programs:
- Weather Watch – Our Weather Watch program operates from November 15 through March 15, providing twice-daily, detailed, location-specific weather updates, including freeze alerts and precipitation forecasts, to help growers make informed decisions. This season, Weather Watch will be especially valuable as we monitor El Niño conditions and any potential effects on California citrus production.
- Packinghouse Directory – We recently revamped our Packinghouse Directory for members, which provides an overview of citrus packinghouses across the state, including their locations, varieties packed, and key contact information.
- Market Memo – Our Weekly Market Memo, distributed every Thursday evening, includes industry news and events, regulatory updates, and summaries of CCM’s advocacy efforts on behalf of California citrus growers. The Market Memo also includes weekly pricing data, seasonal trends, and import reports for several major California citrus varieties.
- Geographic Information System – Our GIS mapping system is another useful resource for growers and industry partners. This interactive, layered map provides information on GSA boundaries, legislative districts, citrus acreage and more across the state.
- Fisher Phillips Labor Law Consultation – With the seemingly constant changes to labor laws and regulations in our state, I want to remind all CCM members that you are entitled to one hour of free labor consultation with a Fisher Phillips attorney as part of our partnership with the firm. Please contact me to set up an appointment.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with California’s dedicated citrus growers and look forward to continuing to connect with members. If you have questions, concerns, or would like to learn more about any of the resources mentioned above, please don’t hesitate to contact me at diego@cacitrusmutual.com or 559-355-3375.
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