USApple’s Jim Cranney Selected to Lead the
California Citrus Quality Council
Auburn, Calif. – The Board of Directors of the California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) has selected James R. Cranney, Jr. as its new President effective July 9, 2008. Cranney succeeds Dr. Hugh “Wally” Ewart, who served as President for nearly seven years and retired on May 31,
2008.
“Jim has the technical expertise and leadership qualities needed to address the important problems we face in the California citrus industry,” said Dr. Adel Kader Chairman of CCQC’s Board of Directors. “Jim is familiar with the regulatory and phytosanitary landscape from his extensive regulatory and government affairs activities in Washington, D.C.”
Cranney resigned his position as Vice President of the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), effective June 20, where he served the apple industry for nearly 15 years. While at USApple, he worked closely with federal regulators to maintain use of critical crop protection tools and advocated for science-based food safety and phytosanitary measures. Cranney partnered with key members of the apple industry to advocate for greater federal research funding to improve fruit quality and productivity, and joined specialty crop industry leaders in the formation of the Specialty Crops Research Team, a federal specialty crop advocacy group.
Prior to joining USApple in 1993, Cranney worked as an agricultural business consultant. He also previously served as a produce buyer for Heinz USA, and as a market news reporter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“I’m looking forward to serving the California citrus industry and partnering with industry leaders in California to solve technical and regulatory problems that threaten California citrus producers and packers,” said Cranney. “I’ll miss the apple industry, which has been my home for the past 15 years, but now I have an opportunity to lead and serve in a new role.”
Cranney represents USApple on several industry coalitions including Secretary of the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance, the Pesticide Policy Coalition, the United Fresh Produce Association’s Food Safety and Technology Council, and the Specialty Crops Research Team. Cranney was honored by Vance Publishing’s The Packer newspaper and The Grower magazine as the apple industry’s 2005 Apple Man of the Year for advocacy excellence in Washington, D.C. He holds an M.S. in Agricultural Economics and a B.S. in Food Marketing.
Chuck Orman, CCQC’s Board Vice Chairman, has been tapped to serve as acting President of the CCQC to oversee daily operations until Cranney assumes his responsibilities. He will coordinate with the Board’s Chairman Adel Kader and retired President Hugh “Wally” Ewart.
“Wally has been a friend and colleague of mine for the past 15 years,” said Cranney. “He has the unique distinction of being an icon in the apple and citrus industries, and he’s left a legacy that I’ll look up to during my tenure at CCQC.”
CCQC’s mission is to represent the California citrus industry in response to problems and issues which arise in state, national, or international arenas and which affect the industry generally in areas of quarantine matters, technical assistance, international compliance, or other related issues. Use of the word “related” is key to CCQC’s mission because it explains CCQC’s interest in preventing pest introductions, which would increase pesticide use and disrupt successful integrated pest management (IPM) activities. It also explains CCQC’s preemptive interest in international phytosanitary issues which could later restrict export opportunities. CCQC is pro-active and always maintains a science-based approach to the issues relating to the state’s citrus industry.