Ken Melban promoted at California Avocado Commission

The Irvine, Calif.-based California Avocado Commission has promoted Ken Melban to vice president of industry affairs and operations. 

Melban joined the commission in 2011 as director, issues management and in 2015 was promoted to vice president, industry affairs, according to a news release.

“Ken has provided more than a decade of service at the California Avocado Commission and we are very pleased that he will continue to lead the Commission’s industry affairs programs, while taking on additional responsibilities for operations,” CAC President Jeff Oberman said in the release. “This expanded position aligns with our mission to maximize California avocado grower returns and to improve grower sustainability.”

Melban is responsible for industry advocacy activities, issues management, production research and grower communications, according to the release. He 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 also secured USDA Market Assessment funding and USDA Market Access Program grants to promote California avocados in South Korea, Japan and China, according to the release. Other highlights of his accomplishments to date at the commission include sustainability initiatives, development of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for the California avocado industry, training and widespread adoption of the program, the release said. 

In 2014, Melban was appointed by U.S. Trade Representative and USDA Secretary of Agriculture to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee in Washington D.C. and was reappointed in 2019, the release said. 

Melban advocates for California avocado growers and after the devastating Thomas fire in 2017 worked to expedite federal funding for impacted industry members. In his expanded role as vice president of industry affairs and operations, Melban also will manage financial and administrative operations of the organization, the release said.

Melban’s prior two decades of produce leadership experience included working with California commodity boards and the National Grape & Wine Initiative, the release said. He also was manager of the Statewide Spray Safe program. Melban was an adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University where he received a Bachelor of Arts as well a Master of Arts degree in leadership and organizational studies. 

Throughout his career he has 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, according to the release.