News Summary
Ken Melban has been promoted to President of the California Avocado Commission effective May 22, 2025. With over a decade of experience at the CAC, Melban has been instrumental in advocating for California avocado growers and leading initiatives like the expansion of the avocado export program. As the avocado industry in California continues to grow, Melban’s leadership is expected to drive further advancements and support for farmers across the state.
California Avocado Commission Promotes Ken Melban to President
California has named Ken Melban as the new president of the California Avocado Commission (CAC), effective May 22, 2025. Melban has been part of the CAC since 2011, initially serving as the director of issues management and later taking on various leadership roles, including vice president of industry affairs and operations.
Jason Cole, the chair of the CAC, praised Melban for his significant contributions in financial and administrative operations, as well as his effective management of industry affairs programs. His deep understanding of the challenges faced by California avocado growers and his passion for advocating their interests have been exemplary throughout his tenure.
Career and Contributions
During his time at the CAC, Melban has actively engaged with governmental bodies and other organizations to promote initiatives beneficial to avocado growers. His efforts include advocating post-fire recovery strategies and implementing measures to protect against harmful pests resulting from imported avocados. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) specifically tailored for California avocados.
One of Melban’s notable achievements was leading the expansion of California’s avocado export program. His persistence paid off in 2020 when he successfully secured market access for California avocados to China after a lengthy nine-year negotiation process.
With over 20 years of experience in produce leadership, Melban has collaborated with various California commodity boards and contributed to the National Grape & Wine Initiative. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in leadership and organizational studies from Fresno Pacific University. Additionally, Melban has been involved in various community service organizations and has collaborated with the California Department of Food and Agriculture Climate Change Adaptation Consortium and the Ventura AG Futures Alliance.
Avocado Industry Overview
California’s avocado industry is experiencing growth, with predictions indicating a statewide harvest of 375 million pounds for the current year, marking an increase from 350 million pounds in the previous season. This boost in production is attributed to a rise in tree planting, with about 300,000 new avocado trees being established annually over the past decade. Notably, Santa Barbara County has around 5,700 acres dedicated to avocado cultivation, making it the third-highest-grossing fruit and nut crop within the county.
Farmers, like Rick Shade from Shade Farms, which operates approximately 5,200 avocado trees, are optimistic about the upcoming 2026 harvest season. They expect near-record yields based on the maturation of their trees, with last year’s production reaching approximately 250,000 pounds.
Consumer Guidance and Industry Valuation
While the CAC has decided not to comment on avocado prices for the upcoming year, farmers recommend that consumers purchase hard avocados and allow them to ripen at home for the best eating experience. The entire California avocado industry is valued at around $1.5 billion, having produced over 363.6 million pounds of avocados during the 2023-2024 season.
As Ken Melban prepares to take on his new role as president of the CAC, the industry looks forward to continued growth and advancement under his experienced leadership.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- The Produce News: California Avocado Commission Names New President
- Fruitnet: California Avocado Commission Promotes Ken Melban to President
- KSBY: California Avocado Commission Predicts 375M Pounds of Fruit for the 2025 Season
- Fox Business: CA Commission Urges Trump Administration to Take Action to Protect Avocado Orchards
- Edible Monterey Bay: Found Treasure – California Avocados Deep Dive Edition
- Wikipedia: Avocado
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Avocado
- Google Search: California Avocado Commission
- Google Scholar: California Avocado Commission
- Google News: California avocados
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