The California Avocado Commission Board of Directors is comprised of 20 individuals serving as producers, handlers and public members. The state’s avocado growing region is currently broken down into five districts, with two producer members and one alternate producer member elected to serve each district for a total of 15 growers on the board (10 members and 5 alternate members). In addition, there are two handler members, one alternate handler member, along with one public member and one alternate public member.
The annual CAC General Election will be held in October for one producer member seat in each of the five CAC districts. In addition, one handler member seat also is open. All seats in the 2025 CAC Election are for two-year terms ending on October 31, 2027.
Per CAC Election Procedures, producer candidates for member or alternate member seats may be nominated by a petition signed by five eligible producers in the district in which they are seeking election. Handler candidates for member or alternate member seats may be nominated by a petition signed by one eligible handler (aside from the handler organization the nominee represents).
The Commission will conduct the 2025 General Election utilizing a ranked choice voting method. Ballots will ask voters to cast their vote by ranking candidates in order of preference. The candidate receiving the highest number of first choice votes will be offered the available seat.
The Summary of Open Seats (below) lists the seats that shall be filled in the upcoming election. Also included below is a schedule of important dates and deadlines related to the 2025 CAC General Election.
SUMMARY OF OPEN SEATS*
District | Member | Alternate |
1 | Robert Jackson | Enrico Ferro |
2 | Victor Araiza | Tina Wolferd |
3 | Rob Grether | John Berns |
4 | Jason Cole | Hayden McIntyre |
5 | Daryn Miller | Byron Talley |
Handler | Peter Shore | Currently Vacant |
*Names shown are incumbents presently holding producer/handler seats
2025 ELECTION SCHEDULE
July 14 | Election announcement / self-nomination notice sent to all Producers and Handlers |
August 25 | Deadline for receipt of signed nomination petitions, candidate disclosure statements & affidavits and requests for voter access mailings |
September 5 | Deadline for CAC receipt of voter access mailings |
September 24 | CAC mails ballots to producers and handlers |
October 24 | Deadline for receipt of ballots by CDFA |
November 7 | CDFA advises CAC staff of election results |
November 13 | CDFA announces election results to CAC Board and seats new Board Members and Alternates |
The nomination packets for producers and handlers are available online as are the CAC Election Procedures and CAC Governing Documents. Should you have any questions regarding the election process, or serving as a commissioner, please contact April Aymami at 949.341.1955 or [email protected]. Once candidates have been declared, nomination information provided by each will be available on the CAC election candidate information page.