Walnut Bargaining Association Executive Director Jonathan Field, who led the organization since 2002, is retiring and the association is headed in a new direction.

The association has secured the services of Ag Association Management Services and its president and CEO, Chris Zanobini.

More walnut coverage

U.S. almond, walnut exports to increase, USDA predicts

Walnut minimum price recommendation increased

USDA won’t regulate genetically engineered walnuts, easing commercialization

California walnut market order changes take effect in September

Heinrich Farms: Walnuts, almonds are specialties

“Our hope is that this will allow our organization to expand into other areas that will benefit California walnut farmers,” said Donald Norene, Walnut Bargaining Association chairman, in a news release.

Ag Association Management Services, headquartered in Sacramento, represents more than 30 agriculture operations. It provides management and operational services for associations, foundations, commissions and marketing orders.

The firm provides a team of experts to address legislative, regulatory and member concerns.

“Our passion for ag runs deep and we’ve been fortunate to help lead and support ag organizations for over 30 years,” Zanobini said, in a news release.

Norene, a farmer near Rio Oso, Calif., said the association has already started strategizing on how it might be reorganized to better serve California walnut growers.

“We welcome any input from industry members,” he added.

The Walnut Bargaining Association is a grower-owned cooperative established in 1991 and is the only organization that exists solely to represent California walnut farmers.

The organization, which seeks to ensure that farmers get a fair price, is voluntary and funded by a $2 per ton assessment on members.

A friend to growers

Pete Jelavich, an association board member from Yuba City, Calif., said in the news release that Field has been a tremendous asset to the California walnut industry and has provided invaluable information on world economic conditions, supply and demand factors and pricing.

“More than that, he has been a friend to the members of the WBA,” Jelavich said.

“Jon has always had a strong commitment to California farmers and is a rancher himself through his long-time business breeding and selling sheep. We wish him the best in his retirement,” Jelavich added.

Field, in the news release, said he enjoyed working with the board of directors.

“The WBA is well positioned to help lead the walnut industry into the future,” Field said.

Fields’ lengthy career

Fields’ long career in agriculture began in 1976 when he worked as a statistician for California Ag Statistics Services.

He became an economist for the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

In 1981, he began working for the California Tree Fruit Agreement, a group of marketing orders representing fresh peaches, plums, nectarines and fresh and processed pears. He served as CEO of the organization for several years.

After his “retirement” from that position, he took on a number of part-time roles, including managing the Walnut Bargaining Association and serving as the compliance officer for food safety auditing programs under the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board and the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.