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October 15, 2003 |
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Dear Grower:
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Counties Try to Qualify for Disaster Relief Ag Commissioners in Sacramento, Sutter, Colusa and Yolo counties are all evaluating grower losses regarding filing for disaster relief, which requires over 30 percent loss. A major problem is that some growers had losses exceeding the 30 percent after the rain where others show less loss. October 22 is the last date for filing. |
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Open District Meetings The District Meetings in 2003 are open to members, non-members, cannery staff, and bankers – all we ask is that you call the CTGA office and let us know that you are planning to attend so we can have the correct meal count.
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Mid-West Growers Seek Farm Bill Flexibility Growers producing crops under the current farm bill want more flexibility giving them the opportunity to grow non-program crops as they take program crops out of production. CTGA is opposing this action as we do not
need more tomatoes in the mid-west and we do not want cotton farmers in
California growing tomatoes in place of cotton. It is double dipping and it
hurts the tomato situation. Key Congressmen for us are Calvin Dooley and
Dennis Cardoza. We ask you to call Mr. Dooley and Mr. Cardoza and tell them
to oppose HR2181. |
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Cameron Representing CTGA at Parma, Italy The World Tomato Conference, where tomatoes and health along with changes in the Codex Alimentarius regarding new quality standards are being proposed, will be attended by CTGA Chairman Don Cameron. |
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Bylaw Revision - Board Quorum The Board of Directors are asking growers to approve a Bylaw change for the CTGA in order to allow for a quorum to be 50 percent of the existing number of seated Board members. Ballots have been mailed to all CTGA members and we ask that you please return the ballot in the self-addressed envelope no later than October 31, 2003. |
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Small Planet Closing Small Planet Foods, an organic unit of General Mills, Inc., is closing its Atwater tomato cannery, putting 47 full-time employees out of work. Small Planet Foods took over the plant in 2000 from Atwater Canning Co. Small Planet Foods sells tomatoes under the Muir Glen label. |
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Titles at CTGA The Chairman, Chief Executive Officer is now Chairman of the Board, currently held by Don Cameron. The Executive Vice President is now President, Chief Executive Officer, currently held by Ron Schuler. Ron is interim President/CEO until a full-time President/CEO is hired. John Poundstone of Arbuckle chairs the search committee along with Bret Ferguson, Dario Giampaoli, Stan Nunn, Alan Sano and Bob Williams, including Kim Rothstein of The Hale Group. |
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Search Committee Underway CTGA Director John Poundstone is chairing the search committee in search of a full-time President and CEO. Interested parties are encouraged to submit an application to the CTGA office. |
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Annual Meeting Exhibits Board members are encouraging grower vendors to exhibit at the 2004 CTGA Annual Meeting scheduled for January 21, 2004 at the Doubletree Hotel in Modesto, California. Farm Advisors will hold their U.C.C.E. processing tomato educational meeting in conjunction with the CTGA Annual Meeting. |
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You Know? California paste processing capacity has increased 33 percent between 1992 and 2002 according to the Food Institute Report. |
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