Fresno State Agribusiness Management Conference Highlights Economic Drivers

National produce expert Steve Lutz will visit Fresno State to discuss the abundance of new products in the fruit and vegetable produce industry and how it affects consumer purchase behavior at the 38^th annual Agribusiness Management Conference to be held Nov. 14 on campus.

The conference will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Satellite Student Union at 2485 E. San Ramon Ave. at Fresno State.

Lutz will be joined by six industry experts to address this year’s theme of “Data Decisions and Connectivity.”  The conference provides a venue for the state’s agricultural business, economic, political and research sectors, as well as Fresno State faculty, staff and students to learn about issues affecting the Central Valley and beyond.

Here is the list of speakers and topics confirmed for the conference:

7:30-7:35       Pledge of Allegiance

7:35-7:45       California State University, Fresno Update

President Joseph Castro, California State University, Fresno

7:50-8:20       DRIVE: Developing the Region’s Inclusive and Vibrant Economy …

                        Takeaways and Next Steps from the California Economic Summit

Elliott Balch, Chief Operating Officer, Central Valley Community Foundation

8:25-8:55       China, Tariffs and International Trade with Respect to Specialty Crops

Julie Adams, VP of Technical Regulatory Affairs, Almond Board of California

9:00-9:15         BREAK

 

 

9:20-10:00     Understanding the Water Myths:  Are We Net Importers or Exporters

                         of Water in the Central Valley?  In California

Laura Ramos, Programs Manager, California Water Institute – moderator

Panel features water regulator, finance/banking, and farmer/producer experts.

10:10-10:40   Digital Transformations: Disrupting the Way We Grow, Sell, Move and

                         Purchase Food

Daniel Royer, President and CEO, Great Valley Oak

10:45-11:35   How New Products and Consumer Choice Change Everything

Steve Lutz, Vice President of Insights and Innovation, Category Partner

11:45-12:25     Lunch

12:30-1:05     Transformational Change: “Appalachia of the West” Is Not Our Future

Dr. Dennis Nef, Dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

 

1:05-1:15         Gratitudes and Adjourn – Dr. Susan Pheasant, Director – Institute of Food and Ag

 

 

Registration for the conference is $125 by Monday, Nov. 11. Pre-registered faculty can attend for $25

Registration Link: 

 https://commerce.cashnet.com/fresnoem_ifa 

The Agribusiness Management Conference is one of the pillar events of the campus  Food, Family and Farm Month that runs through Saturday, Nov. 23 and features more than 25 events hosted by Jordan College academic departments, campus farm enterprises, research centers and student organizations.

For more information about the conference or the events, contact Susan Pheasant, Institute for Food and Agriculture at spheasant@csufresno.edu or 559.278.4405.