Fresno, CA — The California Grape & Tree Fruit League (CGTFL) kicked off their new fiscal year earlier this week at their 76th Annual Meeting in Half Moon Bay.
The event featured the election of the new Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board, the honoring of a long-time Delano-based grape grower Marko B. Zaninovich with the prestigious Mentor's Award and an industry workshop that addressed the demand side of produce.
SECRETARY/TREASURER: Louis Pandol (Pandol Bros., Inc.) – Delano-based fresh grape shipper.
The four new members who have joined the Board of Directors are: Bill Byers, Fruit Patch Sales, LLC (Dinuba); Nick Dulcich, Sunlight International Marketing (Dinuba); Kevin Herman, The Specialty Crop Company (Madera); and Cliff Woolley, Munger Bros., LLC (Dinuba). The League's Board meets on a quarterly basis to take action on regulatory and legislative issues at the state, federal and international level.
The League also honored Marko B. Zaninovich, owner of Delano-based Marko Zaninovich, Inc., with the prestigious Mentor's Award. Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission, presented the award to Zaninovich. The Mentor's Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the fresh grape, berry and tree fruit communities through their leadership in the industry. The Mentor's Award was first awarded in 1966 to Mr. Martin Zaninovich of Jasmine Vineyards, Inc. An awardee is selected by the League's Mentors' Committee and a recipient is selected based on the following criteria: a trusted counselor or guide; a wise, loyal advisor; a tutor, coach, teacher; and a person who, through effort, discovery, innovation, dedication, and/or perseverance, has influenced the industry in a positive way.