Ken Melban Promoted to President of California Avocado Commission

Categories: California Business NewsCalifornia News

A vibrant California avocado orchard showcasing the upcoming harvest season.

News Summary

The California Avocado Commission has promoted Ken Melban to president, effective May 22, 2025. Melban has been with the CAC since 2011, showcasing his leadership and strong advocacy for California avocado growers. Under his direction, the CAC has been pivotal in enhancing agricultural practices and expanding market access. The avocado industry anticipates a significant harvest this year, with an expected yield of 375 million pounds, bolstered by increased tree planting. Melban’s appointment indicates a continued commitment to supporting growers and advancing the California avocado sector.

California – The California Avocado Commission (CAC) has announced the promotion of Ken Melban to the position of president, effective May 22, 2025. This new role highlights Melban’s leadership capabilities and commitment to the California avocado industry.

Ken Melban has been with the CAC since 2011, initially serving as director of issues management. In 2015, he advanced to vice president of industry affairs, and since late 2023, he has held the role of vice president of industry affairs and operations. The chair of CAC, Jason Cole, commended Melban for his exceptional leadership abilities in both financial and administrative operations, as well as in industry affairs programs.

Melban possesses a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by California avocado growers and has demonstrated a passion for advocating for their interests. His efforts have included collaborating with government agencies and organizations, notably in post-fire advocacy and measures to safeguard growers from harmful pests brought by imported avocados. He played a pivotal role in establishing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for California avocados and was instrumental in expanding California’s avocado export program, successfully achieving market access to China in 2020 after nine years of negotiations.

With over 20 years of experience in agricultural leadership, Melban’s background includes roles with California commodity boards and the National Grape & Wine Initiative. His educational credentials feature a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in leadership and organizational studies from Fresno Pacific University. Additionally, Melban has contributed to various community service organizations and worked with the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Climate Change Adaptation Consortium and the Ventura AG Futures Alliance.

Industry Insights

The California avocado industry is flourishing, with Farmer Rick Shade of Shade Farms, which manages around 5,200 avocado trees, reporting anticipation of a near-record harvest for the 2026 season. Shade Farms produced approximately 250,000 pounds of avocados last year and expects a larger yield this year due to the maturation of their trees.

The CAC forecasts a statewide harvest of 375 million pounds for the current year, an increase from the 350 million pounds harvested last year. This rise in production is attributed to a surge in tree planting, with roughly 300,000 new avocado trees planted each year over the last decade. Santa Barbara County, which has about 5,700 acres dedicated to avocado production, ranks as the third-highest-grossing fruit and nut crop within the county.

Despite the positive outlook for avocado harvests, the CAC remained tight-lipped on anticipated consumer prices for avocados in retail stores for the upcoming year. The overall value of the California avocado industry is pegged at $1.5 billion, with reported production exceeding 363.6 million pounds for the 2023-2024 season.

Purchasing Tips

In light of the upcoming harvest, Shade Farm urges consumers to purchase hard avocados and allow them to ripen at home for optimal quality. This advice aims to enhance consumer satisfaction while supporting the local avocado market.

Ken Melban’s elevation to president of the California Avocado Commission marks a significant step for the organization as it continues to bolster advocacy efforts, enhance agricultural practices, and expand market reach both domestically and internationally.