May 23, 2018

California Grower-Shipper Association names new chairman

At its annual meeting on May 16, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) appointed Jason Smith as the association’s new chairman of the board. Smith, the president and chief executive officer of Smith Family Wines, is a second-generation wine grape grower and vintner.

Alongside his wife Jennifer, who serves as the company’s creative director, his sister Kacy, who manages endeavors related to health and wellness, and his son Justin, a fellow winemaker, he is focused on who has grown and expanded the family company built by his parents, Richard and Claudia Smith.

When not managing his family’s business, Jason coaches track at Palma and Notre Dame High Schools in Salinas, his alma mater and that of his children Kelly and Matt, both current students at UC Davis. The GSA said he has also been an active leader in Monterey County Farm Bureau, Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, the California Association of Wine Grape Growers and Monterey County Ag Education, Inc.

At the annual meeting, Smith talked about the importance of member engagement and strategic planning as GSA prepares for the retirement of its president of 20 years, Jim Bogart, in May of 2019.

“There are a lot of challenges that our members face daily, and when it comes to agreeing on a way forward, sometimes that’s easy and sometimes it’s not.” Smith said. “As I’ve taken on more of a role in the discussion in the past few years, I’ve realized that listening is essential, and that it’s easier said than done.”

Smith will lead the organization as its chairman until May 2019. Tom Nunes V of The Nunes Company is the vice chairman for 2018-2019 with Mark Campion of Taylor Farms serving as treasurer. In addition to these, the 2018-2019 Grower-Shipper Association Board of Directors will be made up of Tony Alameda (Top Flavor Farms), Richard Amirsehhi (Naturipe Berry Growers), Rodney Braga (Braga Fresh Family Farms), Allan Clark (Merrill Farms), Patrick Collins (Ippolito International), Melissa Duflock (San Bernardo Rancho), Jay Iverson (GreenGate Fresh), Colby Pereira (Costa Farms) and Victor Ramirez (NorCal Harvesting).

 





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