Ross Siragusa is new chairman of food producers

Ross Siragusa of The Kraft Heinz Co. has been elected the 2019-20 chairman of the California League of Food Producers.

Siragusa is based in the Kraft Heinz office in Stockton and has been head of Global Agriculture and Seed for the company since 2008. He also previously served as president of the California Tomato Growers Association from 2004 to 2008.

Kraft Heinz has seven manufacturing locations in California, including Escalon, Fresno, Irvine, San Diego, Stockton and Tulare. Products packed in these locations include sauces and soups, pouches and poly-fill fruit drinks, powdered soft drinks, snack foods, Parmesan and cheddar cheeses, sour cream, cottage cheese and cream cheese.

Other 2019-20 CLFP officers elected were Michael Mariani of Mariani Packing Co. in Vacaville as first vice chairman and Patrick Ricchiuti of ENZO Olive Oil Co. in Clovis as second vice chairman. Nick Kastle of J.G. Boswell Tomato Co. LLC in Corcoran will continue as immediate past chairman.

CLFP board of director members also were nominated to serve new and continued terms on the executive committee.

Nominated for 2019-21 terms were Tim Hamilton of ConAgra Brands Inc. in Oakdale; Chris Rufer of Morning Star Packing Co. in Woodland; Lily Chiem of Kagome Inc. in Los Banos; P.J. Mecozzi of Del Mar Food Products Corp. in Watsonville; and Jim Lipman of California Olive Ranch in Chico.

Nominated to continue their terms for 2018-20 were Mike Smyth of Olam Spices & Vegetable Ingredients in Fresno; Melvin Ward of Sunsweet Growers Inc. in Yuba City; Randy Rickert of Mizkan America Inc. in Stockton; Matthew Reid of SupHerb Farms in Turlock; Scott Woodard of Horizon Nut Co. in Tulare; and Jon Alby of Leprino Foods Co. in Denver, Colo.

Based in Sacramento, CLFP is an association representing the interests of food processors throughout California.