Speaker Profile: Don J Cameron

Delegates from New Zealand have fond memories of Don's visit to Auckland last year when we accompanied Secretary Karen Ross and a delegation from California to the 2035 Oceania Summit.

Don is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Biology. Since 1987, Don has been the Vice President and General Manager of Terranova Ranch, Inc. located 25 miles southwest of Fresno, California. Terranova farms approximately 6,000 acres, in addition to 1,500 acres custom farmed for other clients. The farm has a mix of conventional, organic and biotech field crops including conventional and organic processing tomatoes, peppers, onions, seed product, corn and a diversity of other annual crops. Perennial crops grown consist of walnuts, wine grapes, almonds, pistachios and olives for oil. There are 25 total crops grown on the farm. Furthermore, Don owns and farms Prado Farms located in Fresno County.

Don served on the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel from 2011-2018. In 2012, Don served an appointment at the federal level on the Working Group for the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21). He currently serves as chairman for the California Cotton Alliance, director and past chairman for the California Tomato Growers Association, director for Western Growers Association, Raisin City Water District and Chairman for the McMullin Area GSA.

Don was awarded the 2017 Agriculturalist of the Year by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Further, Terranova Ranch, Inc. was awarded a 2017 Governor’s Environmental Leadership Award (GEELA) for ecosystem and land use stewardship associated with a flood capture and recharge project.

Don has served on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture since 2014 and was appointed President of the Board in February 2018.