California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: Hass Avocado Board

  • Hass Avocado Board Introduces New Board Members from California

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture on November 1st, 2022 announced the appointment of seven new members to the Hass Avocado Board. Appointed are two producer members, two producer alternates, one importer member and one importer alternate to fill three-year terms expiring on October 31, 2025, and one vacant importer alternate seat to fill the remainder of the term which expires on October 31, 2024.

    Members and alternates newly appointed to serve are:

    • Bob Schaar, Temecula, California (Producer Member)
    • Elaine Veyna Bannatyne, Fillmore, California (Producer Member)
    • Daniel Harte, Santa Paula, California (Producer Alternate)
    • Rocco Fiore II, Pasadena, California (Producer Alternate)
    • Debbie Willmann, Ontario, California (Importer Member)
    • Juan Monsalve, Norwalk, Connecticut (Importer Alternate)
    • Christopher Henry, San Diego, California (Importer Alternate 2-Year Term)

    The Hass Avocado Board has 12 members, including seven producer members, two importer members, and three producer or importer members who serve in swing seats. Each member has an alternate.

    Following the seating of the new HAB Board, on December 6th, 2022, the board announced its newly-elected executive committee board members that will be serving for the 2023 board year.

    The Executive Committee members are:

    “It is an honor and a privilege to be elected as chairperson for 2023,” said newly seated HAB Chairperson, Jorge Hernandez. “I am looking forward to continuing to support HAB and its efforts alongside my fellow industry members, especially in an expanded role. As the only independent avocado organization, HAB is dedicated to the success of the entire industry, and we look forward to continuing our mission of making fresh Hass avocados America’s favorite fruit.”

    HAB also recognizes outgoing board members, Sal Dominguez, Jim Swoboda, Jaqueline Solares, John Cornell. HAB Executive Director, Emiliano Escobedo says, “We want to offer our deepest gratitude to those who are phasing out of their roles on the board. Each has contributed so much to HAB’s success promoting Hass avocados and we wish them the best moving forward.”

    The executive committee will play a pivotal role in implementing HAB’s new 2021-2025 strategic plan, which includes strategies, objectives, and five-year working goals across each of five strategic priority areas:

  • Public Health Partnership Taps Avocados To Spread Awareness About Diabetes Prevention

    During National Diabetes Month, the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) joined forces with AltaMed Health Services, the nation’s largest independent federally qualified community health center, to leverage the popularity and goodness of healthy avocados to boost the influence and impact of a diabetes-focused public education outreach to the Latino community.

    Leveraging  relevant research and bilingual educational tools from Aguacates Frescos – Saborea Uno Hoy® bilingual educational tools, recipes and website, the campaign spotlighted the positive role dietary fiber, like that found in fresh avocados, can play in helping maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

    Latinos, one of the country’s fastest growing population segments and a high-value shopper group for the avocado industry, have a 50% chance of developing diabetes in their lifetime per the CDC.

    Working with AltaMed, a network of 300 health professionals providing service to 300,000 patients across Southern California, HAB supported the local deployment of mobile health care units to increase access to glucose testing as well as science-based information about the role nutrition may have in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

    Communications to AltaMed’s network of health professionals, patients, and donors, all directed to the campaign landing page SaboreaUnoHoy.com/AltaMedfor more information in Spanish or English.

    News of the grassroots campaign was pitched broadly and successfully triggered national interest in how bilingual education featuring fresh avocados was being used in the fight against diabetes. Wide-reaching, influential Spanish language outlets such as People en Español and Mundo Hispano covered the strategic partnership.