Meet the California Avocado Commission’s new president

The California Avocado Commission board of directors promoted Ken Melban to be the organization’s president May 22.

Melban joined CAC in 2011 as director of issues management. In 2015, he was promoted to vice president of industry affairs. He has also served as co-executive leader of the organization since late 2023.

“Ken has demonstrated outstanding leadership of the Commission’s financial and administrative operations as well as industry affairs programs,” Jason Cole, CAC board chair, said in a news release. “He has a keen understanding of the challenges faced by California avocado growers and the vitality to advocate passionately for their interests, along with the vision to recognize new opportunities and bring them to fruition.”

According to commission, highlights of Melban’s tenure include advocating the U.S. government to prevent the introduction of potentially devastating pests into the country from imported avocados, a priority effort that is ongoing today. He worked with government and other organizations for the benefit of California avocado growers, including advocating on growers’ behalf after devastating fires. He led the development and widespread adoption of Good Agricultural Practices for the California avocado industry and spearheaded the expansion of the California avocado export program, persisting to secure market access to China in 2020 after nine years of process and negotiation.

Melban’s previous two decades of produce leadership included working with California commodity boards and the National Grape & Wine Initiative. He has a Bachelor of Arts as well as a Master of Arts in leadership and organizational studies from Fresno Pacific University. Throughout his career, Melban served with numerous community service organizations as well as with the California Department of Food and Agriculture Climate Change Adaptation Consortium and Ventura AG Futures Alliance, the release said.