Ronald A. Schuler
President and CEO, California Canning Peach Association
'Saving the cooperative but breaking the farmers financially is not an option'
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| Ronald Schuler, who just completed a term as chairman of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, checks the fruit set in a California peach orchard. Photos courtesy California Canning Peach Association | |
Co-op description: California Canning Peach Association (CCPA) is a bargaining and marketing cooperative representing 550 cling peach growers in California.
Recent achievements by CCPA: In the past five years, the California Canning Peach Association has provided product to a processor in Mexico, which has resulted in more annual export sales than California processors have sold to the two major export markets,Canada and Japan. CCPA also negotiated a contract with a new processor for cling peaches, which is the first newcling-peach processor in California since 1986.
Involvement with cooperatives: "I've been involved in working for farmer cooperatives since 1958, prior to graduating from college," Schuler says. "I've had the opportunity to serve more than 20 years on the board of directors of the California Agricultural Council, including as its chairman from 1983 to 1985."Schuler has served on the board of directors of the National Council of farmer Cooperatives for more than 15 years and was its chairman from 1997 to early 1999.
Professional/personal background: -Raised on a peach farm in Sutter County, California, Schuler received a bachelor's degree in agriculture production from the University of California at Davis. He worked 12 years with California Canners and Growers in research,production and operation. In 1993, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis recognized Schuler with its Award of Distinction for serving agriculture. He was named the Boy Scout Northern California Agriculturalist of the Year in 1998.
What developments are taking place at CCPA? "Younger growers are showing more interest in serving on the board of directors and are asking the question,'Why not a higher price?" Schuler says.
Biggest CCPA concern? Availability of labor to harvest a quality product so members can remain competitive in production with foreign producers.
Which should management put first - the co-op or the farmers it represents, and why? "The co-op is the farmers that own it," says Schuler.'Even though the co-op must operate ina businesslike manner and compete with non-cooperative enterprises, it can never unduly risk the farmers' investment. Saving the cooperative but breaking the farmers financially is not an option. Every board member of every cooperative must have his money at risk and, therefore, make decisions he is willing to stand up and support in his district where other farmers have put their faith in his decisions."
How is CCPA making a difference? By working to expand markets, producing only the quantity that can be marketed successfully and profitably by the buyers.
Goals for CCPA: "We will continue to represent peach growers so that efficient producers can continue to farm peaches and receive a fair and reasonable return for the risks they take each year," Schuler says.
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