CITRUS INDUSTRY VETERAN TO TAKE THE HELM AT CALIFORNIA’S CITRUS RESEARCH BOARD

Ken Keck, former executive director at the Florida Department of Citrus, has been named the next president of the California Citrus Research Board, based in Visalia.
Keck  will succeed Ted Batkin on June 1. Batkin, president since 1993, is planning to retire in September, according  a CSRB release.
Keck, a grower, was executive director and general counsel at the Florida organization for six years. Before that he was its director of government affairs 2002-06, and director of legislative and regulatory affairs 1999-2002.
The California board chose Keck in part for his experience combating citrus greening, chairman Earl Rutz said in the release. The disease is also known as huanglongbing, or HLB.
“As an industry we are facing some serious threats, most notably the continued spread of the Asian citrus psyllid and identification of HLB in our state,” Rutz said. “(Ted’s) are big shoes to fill, (but) we believe Ken’s track record, enthusiasm and alignment with the perspective of California growers will make him an excellent asset.”
During Batkin’s tenure, the board increased research investment to more than $5 million. The primary research focus is the HLB disease and vector management of the psyllid.
At the Florida Department of Citrus, Keck secured an average $7 million annually in state and federal funding and helped establish a $10 million foundation for annual disease research as well as development and commercialization efforts. Florida growers saw a return of $3 to $5 for each marketing dollar under Keck, according to the release.
“I know what it feels like to have your livelihood threatened, and I want to use this understanding and my experiences in Florida to benefit the California industry,” he stated.
“I am a third-generation grower in Florida, so I know the nature of the business. I know what it means to depend on the harvest each year. I know what it feels like to have your livelihood threatened, and I want to use this understanding — and my experiences in Florida — to benefit the California industry.”
Keck holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Stetson University, and a juris doctorate degree in law from Widener University School of Law.
The Florida Citrus Department is a state agency charged with promoting Florida citrus products and is financed largely through a tax paid by growers on the annual citrus harvest.
The Citrus Research Board administers the Citrus Research Program, a grower- funded and directed program established in 1968 under the California Marketing Act as the mechanism enabling the state’s citrus producers to sponsor and support needed research.