Donn Zea is the Executive Director of the California Prune Board and Prune Marketing Committee, the state and federal marketing orders for California Prunes. On behalf of California’s premium prune growers and processors, Donn and his team develop and execute strategies that support the growth of California Prune consumption and value through domestic and international marketing strategies, science-based nutrition discovery, crop and sustainability research, and trade and agricultural policy communications. Prior to joining the prune industry in 2011, Donn led programs in agricultural marketing, research, communications and government relations as President of the California Forest Products Commission and Northern California Water Association and Vice-President of the California Forestry Association. An enthusiastic advocate for California agriculture for more than 32 years, Donn has served in a variety of industry, non-profit and university leadership positions where he has helped to guide efforts and engage consumers, trade and key opinion leaders on food and agriculture’s economic and social benefits. Donn holds a B.A. in Political Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a California Agribusiness Certificate from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis.
Donn’s current organizational involvement includes: Dean’s Council, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Vice-Chair, Board of Governors, California State University Agricultural Research Institute; Executive Committee, Buy California Marketing Agreement; Co-Executive Director, California Dried Fruit Coalition; appointee to USDA Secretary Vilsack’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, and member, Executive Committee, California Department of Food and Agriculture Marketing Program CEOs.
