California Fresh Fruit Association

General information

The California Fresh Fruit Association is a voluntary, nonprofit agricultural trade association that represents California’s fresh fruit industry. Cal Fresh Fruit is the key public policy organization that represents the needs and interests of its members by advocating on behalf of its members on legislative and regulatory issues, at state, federal and international levels. Through the daily presence of the League’s representatives in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., the organization actively monitors legislative and regulatory activity on such issues as farm labor, crop protection materials, marketing requirements, environmental resources, trade, packaging, transportation and other issues of importance.

The Association is one of the oldest agricultural trade associations in California, with its origins dating back to 1921 with the California Growers and Shippers Protective League and 1936 with the California Grape Growers and Shippers Association. In 1948, together, these organizations merged into the California Grape & Tree Fruit League. From that early time, CGTFL has witnessed a great amount of growth, support and loyalty. The organization continues today by representing its members in all aspects of public policy.

CGTFL’s membership is comprised of more than 300 members, including growers, shippers and marketers of fresh grapes, blueberries and tree fruit, and it also includes associates members who are indirectly involved with these commodities (for example, labeling equipment, container/packaging suppliers, commodity groups). The membership is primarily located in the San Joaquin Valley, though there are members located as far north as Lake County and as far south as Coachella Valley. The League-represented commodities include apricots, apples, blueberries, cherries, figs, kiwis, nectarines, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, pomegranates and fresh grapes. Membership of the League represents approximately 85% of the volume of fresh grapes and 95% percent of volume for deciduous tree fruit shipped from California.