Bob Elliott presents award to Joe Morse

October 10, 2012 – The California Citrus Quality Council is pleased to announce that Dr. Joseph G. Morse of the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside was this year’s recipient of the California Citrus Quality Council’s prestigious Albert G. Salter Memorial Award in recognition of his steadfast dedication in the field of entomology which has contributed vitally to the California citrus industry.  Dr. Morse was presented the award during a citrus industry luncheon at the 2012 California Citrus Conference in Porterville.

For over three decades Dr. Morse has provided timely research results and valuable educational resources to California citrus growers and pest control advisors that have enabled the continued economic well-being of the citrus industry.  His extensive efforts in studying the control of citrus thrips, a primary pest of concern to the industry, has led to the registration of new materials needed for its management as well as a continued search for non-chemical alternatives.

Dr. Morse has focused much of his efforts on pests of quarantine concern in export markets, which are critical to the economic viability of the industry.  His field studies and publications on Fuller rose beetle are vital as this pest continues to threaten the industry’s access to essential markets.

Accomplished researcher, educator and administrator, his continued contributions have earned Joe Morse the appreciation and gratitude of the citrus growers of California.

The Salter Award recognizes an individual for their significant contributions and their dedication and commitment to the citrus industry.

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February 10, 2009 –  Robert L. Wynn, Jr. (Bob), whose decades of leadership to keep California agriculture free from exotic pests and diseases, was recognized for those accomplishments by the state’s citrus sector recently in Visalia.

Wynn, the statewide coordinator of the Pierce’s Disease Control Program for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, was presented the Albert G. Salter Memorial Award by the California Citrus Quality Council. This organization, funded by state citrus producers, is dedicated to safeguarding fair international trade practices related to pest, disease and phytosanitary issues.

“We are very pleased to honor Bob Wynn for his extraordinary efforts to protect the California citrus sector from invasive exotic pests and diseases while serving with the CDFA since 1970,” said James R. Cranney, Jr., President of CCQC.

“He has been a leading force in unifying state, federal and local efforts to prevent and abate such pests as the Mediterranean and other fruit flies, glassy-winged sharpshooter and our current problem, Asian citrus psyllid. Some of these pests could disrupt our fresh citrus exports,” Cranney concluded.

Wynn was appointed Director of the Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services for CDFA in 1997. Three years later when the glassy-winged sharpshooter required coordination between citrus and grape producers to successfully control its movement to northern California, Wynn accepted a gubernatorial appointment to become the Statewide Coordinator for the Pierce’s Disease Program.

Today, under the leadership of Secretary A.G. Kawamura, Wynn directs and manages these pest prevention efforts and is a liaison officer to the county agricultural commissioner offices throughout the state.

Wynn obtained a BA degree in economics from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from California State University, Sacramento.

The Salter award is given annually by CCQC to maintain the memory of Albert G. Salter, who was a pioneer in food safety efforts for Sunkist Growers in the early 1950s. Salter urged formation of an industry-wide organization to focus on international trade standards for chemical residues and unfair trade practices.

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.