IN THE SP0TLIGHT
Pete Penner
Chairman of the Board
Sun-Maid Growers of California
"With 30 percent of the California raisin market, the entire industry needs to be successful in order for Sun-Maid to be successful "
- Pete Penner
Co-op description: Sun-Maid Growers of California is celebrating its
87th continuous year as a grower-owned cooperative. The cooperative began in
1912 as the California Associated Raisin Co., which adopted Sun-Maid as its
brand name in 1915. The co-op's familiar logo was first created that same year
and soon became one of America's best known trademarks. In 1922, the cooperative
changed its name to Sun-Maid Raisin Growers to identify more closely with the
popular brand-name.
Sun-Maid currently operates a
130-acre processing and packaging facility owned and managed by its grower
members.
Personal information: Pete Penner began farming in 1955 and currently
oversees 300 acres of grapes and 200 acres of deciduous fruit in Reedley, Calif.
A member of Sun-Maid since 1960, he became a Sun-Maid director in 1968. Penner
served as vice-chairman from 1976 to 1986, when he was elected chairman, a post
he held until April 1999. Penner currently serves as second vice-chairman of
Sun-Maid.
In addition to his longtime work with
Sun-Maid, Penner is very active in several community and business organizations
in the Fresno County area and continues to be a driving force in the California
raisin industry. He has served as chairman of the Raisin Administrative
Committee and is the current vice chairman of the RAC. He is also chairman of
the California Raisin Marketing Board, which is charged with promoting
California raisins and expanding markets for the industry.
Developments at Sun-Maid Growers: "Sun-Maid is currently expanding and enhancing its sales and marketing functions and continuing to develop new ways of producing and marketing raisins. As with most businesses today, changing technology, regulation and consumer demands require us to be creative and flexible. We're trying to be proactive in meeting these challenges," he explains.
Sun-Maid's goals: "Sun-Maid is in the strongest financial position in our history," Penner says, "and we're continuing to find ways to maintain this strength and provide the best for our grower members. Sun-Maid represents about 30 percent of the raisin producers and we operate under a Federal marketing order which affects the entire raisin industry. As a result, to be successful the entire California raisin industry needs to be successful."
Biggest concerns of raisin growers: "Raisins are an extremely
labor-intensive crop," Penner explains, "so labor supply is a critical
and ongoing concern for our industry. In 1998, labor shortages resulted in huge
problems for our members and all raisin growers, so we need to find ways to both
automate and assure an adequate supply of workers now and in the future."
"Water is another big issue in
California," he continues, "as is urban encroachment and other
land-use issues. We're also very concerned with the aging face of agriculture in
general. We have to find ways of continuing the family farm by allowing young
people to stay in the business of farming, not only in the raisin industry but
in all of agriculture."
What are the key rural develop issues facing Western farmers and ranchers?
"As I mentioned, water and urban encroachment are big concerns for us and
the entire agricultural industry," Penner stresses. "California's
raisin-growing region is confined to a relatively small area in the San Joaquin
Valley. This area is feeling growth pressure from urban areas within the region
and from metropolitan areas in northern and southern California. This means more
land and water is shifting from agriculture to residential use. As an industry,
agriculture must find ways of protecting its resources through education of the
public and maintaining a presence in the land-use planning arena." 
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