The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) has a new chairman – vegetable grower Ron Ratto, president of Ratto Bros. Inc. in Modesto.

Ratto served as the LGMA vice-chair for the last three years.

The Ratto family began growing vegetables in California more than a century ago. Leafy green vegetable crops grown today include leaf lettuces, chard, cabbage, and mustard greens.

Ratto is the LGMA’s fourth chairman.

Former treasurer Victor Tognazzini is the LGMA’s new vice-chair. He is a Santa Maria leafy greens farmer and general manager of Tri-Valley Vegetable Harvesting Inc.

Tognazzini is a founding LGMA board member.

Steve Church of Church Brothers Produce is the new LGMA treasurer.

The officers were appointed during the May 1 meeting of the LGMA Advisory Board held in Salinas.

Outgoing Chair Ryan Talley of Talley Farms will remain on the LGMA Board, along with former chairmen Jamie Strachan of Growers Express, LLC, and Joe Pezzini of Ocean Mist Farms.

New board members and alternates elected to serve on the Advisory Board include: Juanita Jenny Chavez, Dole Fresh Vegetables; Manny Alcala, Duda Company; Gurmail Mudahar, Tanimura & Antle; Steve Brazeel, Sunterra Produce; and Kristina Nunes, The Nunes Company.

The new board members represent the LGMA’s District One growing area which includes the Salinas, Watsonville, San Joaquin Valley, and Kern County areas.