California Pest and Disease Committee Has Vacancy

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced there is one vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC). The committee advises the CDFA secretary on activities associated with the statewide citrus-specific pest and disease work plan. The work plan includes but is not limited to outreach and education programs as well as programs for surveying, detecting, analyzing and treating pests and diseases specific to citrus.

The committee member vacancy exists for a northern district representative and will expire following the first committee meeting in 2031. Applicants should have an interest in agriculture and citrus pest and disease prevention. Individuals interested in being considered for a committee appointment should send a brief résumé by Nov. 30 to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, Attention: Keith Okasaki.  

Members of the CPDPC receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary travel expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.

Additional information may be obtained from Keith Okasaki, manager of the CDFA Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division, by phone at 916-274-6300, or by e-mail at Keith.Okasaki@cdfa.ca.gov.

CDFA established the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP) in 2009 to sustain and protect California citrus in accordance with the Food and Agriculture Code. In response to increasing pest and disease pressure, the CPDPC recommended that CDFA seek dedicated resources to implement the CPDPP. Dedicated resources were secured in the 2019 Budget Act and the CPDPD was established in July 2019.

CPDPP activities previously carried out by the CDFA Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division have been transitioned to the CPDPD. CPDPD’s mission is to protect California citrus from invasive pests and diseases through the development and implementation of effective policies and regulations.

See the CPDPD’s Statewide Action Plan for Asian Citrus Psyllid and Huanglongbing.

Source: CDFA