and will be posting a current Grower Newsletter as soon as practicable.

WHAT IS C.C.O.G.C. ?

Central California Orange

Growers Cooperative

is a bonified Caper-Volsted co-op formed in 1984 by a group of independent orange packing and marketing organizations with the goal of improving thier grower's returns by working together in as many ways as necessary yet retaining their individual marketing independence.

C.C.O.G.C. GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

The single most important objective of Central California Orange Growers Coop. (CCOGC) is to increase our member’s net returns through attaining the highest F.O.B’s  possible while moving the crop as expeditiously as conditions warrant.  The most critical factor in setting the right F.O.B. prices, determining how fast or slow to pack and ship the crop, marketing strategies, as well as which varieties to ship and into which markets is market information.  The old cliché has never been more true: “Information is Power”.  CCOGC must be a source for as much market information, truly relevant market information, as is possible for its member shippers.  Sources for such information, besides what can be gathered from inside the CCOGC organization and other citrus industry sources, should include internet resources such as trade association surveys and reports, university studies, and information provided on government web sites.  There is a wealth of information available, such as produce industry and retail trade statistics, graphs, trends, news reports, etc.  These can be sifted through for relevance, compiled and either sent to or presented for discussion to the sales group or board members at their meetings.  The CCOGC C.E.O. should be involved in the major industry trade associations as much as is practical: i.e. California Citrus Mutual, Citrus Research Board, California Citrus Quality Council, Produce Marketing Assn., United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Assn..  It is essential that every reliable scrap of information or data gathered from meetings and/or conversations with competitors, buyers, growers, etc. such as crop size, crop remaining, volumes being shipped, competitor’s grower returns, industry affiliation and personnel changes- anything which may be of value to members-  be compiled and forwarded to sales staffs or management members no less than daily.  Another area requiring constant surveillance is the credit condition of those who are buying from CCOGC member sales organizations.  As the sales staffs or management of member organizations hear things, or have customers developing a slow pay trend, sharing this information with other members is imperative.

CALIFORNIA CITRUS

GROWERS ASSOCIATION

On May 1, 2003, the California orange industry took an unprecedented step forward in an effort to increase grower revenues. Acknowledging the benefits of working together cooperatively, a significant percentage of the industry has committed to membership in the California Citrus Growers Association (CCGA).

This grower-driven, not-for-profit association was organized to promote industry cooperation on issues affecting grower returns.  CCGA is organized as a type of cooperative known as a “marketing agency in common” (“MAC”) under the authority of the federal Capper-Volstead Act.  CCGA’s members are cooperatives of citrus growers, and its eleven member board of directors is composed of individuals who represent the membership.

The cooperative's goal is to enhance grower returns by sharing information, improving quality, managing inventory and maintaining supply discipline ~ all geared toward instilling an orderly process into each marketing season. Today, CCGA provides a vital base of crop and market information that allows the industry to make well-informed, coordinated decisions.

We all know that the key to marketing a crop successfully is moving it at a pace that encourages the most orderly marketing possible. We all know that high quality fruit stimulates consumer demand. Through CCGA, our industry now has a means to coordinate information to enhance grower returns and to offer consumers the best fruit at the best time.

The success of CCGA depends on full participation and cooperation. Every member made a commitment to help develop this program because they believe cooperation and coordination is the only way to enhance grower returns. So far, it is working.