Ken Melban Promoted to President of California Avocado Commission

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A thriving California avocado orchard shows the potential for a record harvest.

News Summary

Ken Melban has been appointed president of the California Avocado Commission, effective May 22, 2025. Melban’s extensive experience and leadership within the CAC have been pivotal for the avocado industry’s growth. Under his guidance, the CAC achieved significant milestones, including exporting to China. Anticipated production for the upcoming year is projected to rise, with farmers predicting record harvests. Melban’s commitment to advocating for avocado growers is expected to lead the industry into a prosperous future.

California – Ken Melban has been promoted to the position of president of the California Avocado Commission (CAC), effective May 22, 2025. This elevation comes as the CAC continues to navigate various challenges faced by the California avocado industry, which has been experiencing growth amid increased tree planting and market expansion.

Previously, Melban has had a notable career within the CAC. He joined the organization in 2011 as the director of issues management and was later promoted to vice president of industry affairs in 2015. Most recently, he served as vice president of industry affairs and operations since late 2023. His leadership has received commendation from various sectors, including CAC chair Jason Cole, who emphasized Melban’s exceptional management skills and his deep commitment to advocating for the interests of avocado growers.

Melban’s extensive experience encompasses over 20 years in produce leadership. His professional history includes work with California commodity boards and contributions to the National Grape & Wine Initiative. He has collaborated with government agencies and organizations to benefit California avocado growers through efforts that range from post-fire advocacy to preventing harmful pests from imported avocados. His leadership also played a crucial role in implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for California avocados, which enhance food safety and quality standards.

Under Melban’s guidance, the CAC achieved significant milestones, most notably the expansion of California’s avocado export program. This includes successful negotiations that led to market access to China in 2020 after a lengthy nine-year process. These accomplishments underline his commitment to enhancing market opportunities for California avocado growers.

As the new president, Melban will oversee an industry that is currently projected to produce a statewide harvest of 375 million pounds this year, marking an increase from 350 million pounds last season, with further growth anticipated in the coming years due to annual tree planting efforts. Farmer Rick Shade of Shade Farms, which manages approximately 5,200 avocado trees, forecasts a near-record harvest for the 2026 season along with a substantial yield increase this year as the trees continue to mature.

In the previous season, Shade Farms produced around 250,000 pounds of avocados and is poised for an even larger yield in 2026. The California avocado industry itself is valued at about $1.5 billion, having produced over 363.6 million pounds of fruit during the 2023-2024 growing season. Furthermore, roughly 300,000 new avocado trees have been planted annually across the state over the last decade, contributing to the industry’s expansion.

Santa Barbara County ranks as the third-highest in avocado production, with an estimated 5,700 acres dedicated to avocado cultivation. As for consumer advice, Shade suggests purchasing hard avocados to ripen at home, ensuring optimal quality for consumers. However, the CAC has chosen not to comment on anticipated avocado prices at retail stores for the upcoming year.

Ken Melban holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in leadership and organizational studies from Fresno Pacific University. His community engagement includes involvement with organizations focused on agricultural adaptation and future alliances dedicated to promoting agricultural advancements in California.