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The best opportunity California
agriculture has had in many years, and maybe the last opportunity, will be
during the primary election on March 2, and the general election in
November, 2004.
It is the opportunity to elect a San Joaquin Valley farmer who understands
the importance of California agriculture to the U.S. Senate. Bill Jones
knows the economic importance of agriculture to this state and knows the
important role the Farm Bill plays in the agricultural equation. If the
government support is lost for cotton and rice for example, those growers
will turn to tomatoes, which could devastate the industry. I urge each of
you to be supportive of Bill Jones. Send him a contribution and tell your
urban friends that Bill is a solid individual who will serve California
well.
This discussion of politics brings us to the fact that the California
Tomato Growers Association has a Political Action Committee (PAC) but no
money. While many of you make contributions on your own, those same
contributions could have a greater impact if they were combined under the
tomato industry's PAC. Give your new president, Ross Siragusa, the clout
to represent you politically by funding your own PAC.
PAC's are the truest and most straightforward means of political support.
All contributions are reported, the books are audited, and support is
decided through a PAC committee. A PAC contribution does not buy a vote;
however, it does open the door so your issues can be discussed. I want to
encourage every tomato grower whether a member of the CTGA or not to join
the tomato industry's PAC. If every tomato grower were a member of the
PAC, it could be used to tell our story regarding global competition,
importance of USDA grants for market expansion, and market promotion in
exports, to the people who are going to make these decisions.
Support Bill Jones and join the California Tomato Growers Political Action
Committee now. Get involved! Don't expect the other grower to do it for
you. You must do your part.
On a personal note, I have enjoyed the five months as the acting CEO of
the Association. During that time we reported on The Hale Group report,
had three district meetings, and commenced negotiations by having a grower
committee meet with processors, starting in November. In early December we
met with all processors to discuss the need to work together for product
research, trade, and industry advocacy. In January we had a terrific
annual meeting and hired a new CEO.
It has been an interesting and challenging five months.
I want to say that the staff of the Association has been very cooperative
and we are all sorry to see Jo Anne Hancock leaving the Association in
early February. We wish her well and thank her for the time and service
she gave to all tomato growers and the Association.
I wish Ross much success, but no one can do it alone. He needs your
support.
Good luck! |
