Almond Board’s elections begin April 21

Voting begins Friday, April 21, to select one independent grower position and two independent handler positions on the Almond Board of California (ABC) Board of Directors. Alternate seats for those spots are also open as well as a second grower alternate seat that was not filled in 2022. Voting ends May 25.

Candidates for the independent grower positions

Grower Position #1, Member (1-year term)

• Mallvinder Singh Kahal, Madera, (petitioner)
• Paul Ewing, Los Banos (incumbent)

Grower Position #1, Alternate

• Katie Staack, Hughson (incumbent)

Grower Position #2 Alternate (3-year term**)

• Brad Klump, Escalon, (petitioner)
• Jaime Silva Esteves, Denair (petitioner) **2 years remaining on term

Candidates for the independent handler positions:

Handler Position #1, Member (3-year term)

• Alexi Rodriguez, Caruthers (incumbent)

Handler Position #1, Alternate

• Ron Fisher, Modesto (incumbent)

Handler Position #3, Member (1-year term)

• Darren Rigg, Le Grand (incumbent)

Handler Position #3, Alternate

• Chad DeRose, McFarland (incumbent)

Ballots and instructions have been mailed to all independent growers and handlers whose names are on file with ABC. Ballots must be received by ABC by May 25. Any independent grower or handler who does not receive a ballot can contact Toni Arellano at tarellano@almondboard.com.

“Every vote is important, and it’s equally important to have as much of the industry as possible represented in the voting,” Richard Waycott, president and CEO at ABC. “The Board of Directors represents more than 7,600 growers and 100 handlers and guides the work of the Almond Board to help the industry succeed in these continuing complicated times.”

The ABC board, made up of five handler and five grower representatives, sets policy and recommends budgets in major areas, including marketing, production research, public relations and advertising, nutrition research, statistical reporting, quality control and food safety.

Results will be announced June 1 and the new board will start its term Aug. 1.