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RAC/CRMB Weekly Update
To: All Members, Alternates, Packers, Staff, and Interested Industry Partners
The Work of the Raisin Administrative Committee and the California Raisin Marketing Board, by Gary Schulz, President and General Manager
January 27, 2012
Deliveries to Handlers
For the period of January 15-21, 2012:
5,995 tons of Natural Seedless (NS) raisins were delivered to handlers.
6,466 tons of all varieties were delivered.
4,883 tons of all varieties were delivered for the same period last year.
256,209 tons of NS raisins have been delivered for the year-to-date. This compares to 300,365 tons of NS deliveries as of this date a year ago, a reduction of 15%.
15,229 tons of Golden Seedless raisins have been delivered ytd.
283,629 tons of all varieties have been delivered ytd, compared to 334,396 tons in 2010-2011.
16,370 tons of the NS deliveries for 2011-12 crop year are organic.
1,043 tons of NS are held on memo storage.
25,027 tons of NS are held for reconditioning. (13,852 for moisture, 1,266 for maturity, 5,524 for mold, 2,227 for sand).
Upcoming Meetings
Wednesday, February 1, RAC Independent Producer Nomination Meetings, 8 a.m., Visalia Holiday Inn, Visalia (District 2)
1 p.m., Vineyard Restaurant, Madera (District 1)
3:30 p.m., RAC Office, (District 3)
Note: all of the nomination meetings will accept nominations for the full 60-minute duration for which they have been noticed.
Thursday, March 15-Saturday, March 17, Rancho Mirage, CA, RAC Meeting with Japan Dried Fruits Importers Association.
Monday, March 26-Tuesday, March 27, Fresno, RAC International Marketing Representatives’ annual meeting.
Thursday, July 12 and Friday, July 13, Fresno, CRMB Scientific Nutrition Research Panel.
Actions by the Committee/Board
This week meetings were held by both CRMB and RAC with these actions taken:
Raisin Administrative Committee
Approved revised e-Compliance Plan.
Approved revised Marketing Policy.
Received travel reports from staff and members of meetings and work in Japan, Chile and UK.
Reviewed bin spending plan and referred it back to the Bin Workgroup for further study to include possible sale of bins.
Reviewed options available for IMPF program.
Approved revised Operating MOU with CRMB.
Approved the Chairman or designee to attend the International Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Singapore in May.
California Raisin Marketing Board
Approved revised Operating MOU with RAC.
Reviewed marketing campaigns for Solar Powered Goodness and Special Assessment (Craisins verus Raisins).
Approved full spending plan for special assessment.
Received report from Dr. Lori Berger, Executive Director of the CA Specialty Crops Council.
Approved second phase Health and Nutrition study by LMARC.
Agreed to participate in the second phase of work by the multi-commodity sustainability task force.
Elected Dr. Sonet Van Zyl of CSU-Fresno as alternate public member.
Heard reports from Budget Subcommittee that included audited annual financial statement and Agreed Upon Procedures.
Adopted Internal Controls.
Independent Raisin Producer RAC Nominations
TO: All Independent Raisin Producers
SUBJECT: Nomination meetings for independent producer seats.
Independent producers’ member/alternate seats for the 2012/2014 RAC term based on deliveries for the 2010 crop year will be a total of 16 seats.
District 1 – North of Fresno County will have 1 member / 1alternate
District 2 – South of Fresno County will have 1 member / 1alternate
District 3 – Fresno County will have 14 members / 14 alternates
Nominations for independent producer seats will be accepted for a full 60 minutes as follows:
District 1 - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. - The Vineyard, 605 South “I” Street. Madera, CA
District 2 - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. - Holiday Inn (in the lobby), 9000 West Airport Drive, Visalia, CA
District 3 - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. - RAC Conference Room, 2445 Capitol Street, Suite 200, Fresno, CA
(If you are being nominated, it is your option to submit a brief, one paragraph statement about yourself and your interest in serving on the RAC. This information is needed immediately to prepare the ballots.)
Subsequent to these meetings:
Ballots will be mailed to all independent producers recording 2010 deliveries for them to vote for independent producers to represent them on the RAC. To qualify, to nominate, and vote (989.129) as an independent grower member, you must own, or be a person who is engaged in a proprietary capacity which produced grapes which have been or will be made into raisins during the current crop year. To qualify to serve (989.27) as an independent grower member you must be actively engaged in a business of the group, which he/she represents in either his/her own behalf, or as an officer, agent, or an employee of a business entity, which produced grapes that have been or will be made into raisins during the current crop year. Additionally, to qualify as an independent grower, you must not be a member of the RBA, Sun-Maid, nor sold your raisins for cash to Sun-Maid during the current crop year.
The RAC offers the opportunity for all segments of the California raisin industry to be represented and invites qualified women, minorities, and physically challenged candidates to attend district nomination meetings and express their intent in membership. We ask that you be mindful of the USDA’s policy on Civil Rights and consider all eligible persons for membership on the Committee.
Ballots will be mailed mid-February and will need to be postmarked by Friday, March 9, 2012. Questionnaires will be provided to those nominated by USDA either by email or mail.
Upcoming Industry Events
Fresno County Ag Roundtable, February 24, 7 a.m. at Marie Callendar’s, Cedar and Shaw in Fresno
Fresno Food Expo, Thursday, March 8, 2012, Fresno Convention Center, for information go to www.fresnofoodexpo.com
Produce for Better Health Annual Meeting, March 29-31, Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, Monterey, CA
Raisin Industry Golf Tournament, Thursday, April 19, 2012. Shotgun start time and place to be announced.
DFA of California and Specialty Crop Trade Council Annual Meeting
Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, April 25-27, San Diego
For more information, go to www.beyondgravitycatchfire.com
Have a Great Week!
Gary Schulz, President and General Manager
Raisin Administrative Committee www.raisins.org
California Raisin Marketing Board www.loveyourraisins.com
559-225-0520
gary@raisins.org
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