Archives: Speakers

Research Scientist, Agriculture & Agri-food Canada

Dr. Roselyne Labbé is a Research Scientist in greenhouse entomology at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada where she is currently involved in multiple collaborative research projects aimed at improving the sustainability and cost effectiveness of greenhouse pest management. These include exploring the use of supplemental foods for enhanced biocontrol agent crop establishment, optimizing the greenhouse light environment, identifying, and developing novel biocontrol agents for the suppression of existing and emerging greenhouse crop pests in North America.

The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food was created in 1868 in recognition of the importance of agriculture to the economic, social and cultural development of Canada. Today, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada contributes to innovation and the sustainability of agriculture through supporting science and associated activities, as well as through the development and transfer of knowledge that enhances the sector’s resiliency and fosters new areas of opportunity.  Through its industry-defined strategies, farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and agri-based enterprises are supported in their efforts to adopt new technologies and commercialize new products and services.

Plant Pathologist, Chase Agricultural Consulting

Dr. Ann Chase has has been a plant pathologist for nearly 40 years experience since receiving her PhD from the Univ. of California at Riverside in 1979.  Her work has focused on research, diagnostics and practical consulting in plant pathology in diseases of ornamental crops especially.   She has been retired from the University of Florida – Mid Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka since 1994, but remains on staff as a Professor Emeritus.  She and her husband run a contract research and consulting business in Arizona following 15 years in California.

Chase Agricultural Consulting was opened in December 2011 specializing in educating and consulting with growers and suppliers in ornamentals as well as select agricultural crops.  They continue to produce the monthly news letter Chase Digest (formerly Chase News) as well as Ask Ann for quick consultations on disease ID and control strategies.  Dr. Chase co-authored “Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials” and most recently “Bedding Plant Disease and Pest Compendium” with Margery Daughtrey and Dr. Ray Cloyd which was published in 2018.  She and her husband Mike Zemke are also back in the business of contract research on greenhouse crops in their AZ operation.   

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Oregon State University

David Lowenstein, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University. He is an entomologist with research experience in a variety of systems including vegetables, tree nuts, and urban agriculture. practices. David’s areas of expertise and interest include evaluating how agricultural practices and surrounding habitat impact arthropod pests, natural enemies, and pest management decisions. His current responsibilities involve management and biological control of the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

Oregon State University is public research university. Its extension service provides information and expertise to help meet local challenges and to help the community thrive.

Anthony Duttle is the Director of Agronomic Services at Tanimura and Antle. Duttle has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agricultural Biology from New Mexico State University with a minor In Toxicology as well as a Master of Business Administration from Fresno State University. Duttle is a licensed Pest Control Advisor in California and Certified Crop Advisor with Nutrient Management Certification.

Duttle is the former Director of Agronomic Services for Simplot California Division. He has extensive experience in Crop protection, Soil Fertility and soil health. Duttle has worked in the development of new, biologically based innovative crop protection products for crop production and soil health.

Tanimura and Antle is an employee owned, family farming company, farming 37,000 – 39,000 acres annually. Production includes both conventional and organic vegetables including Lettuce (Head, Romaine fresh, Romaine hearts, Artisan, leaf), Broccoli, Artisan Broccoli, Cauliflower, Daimpnd Cabbage, Onions, Celery, melons, blueberries, Strawberries in seven growing regions: Central Coast of California, Western San Joaquin valley, Oxnard, Imperial Valley, Southwestern Arizona, Tennessee, Mexico.

Executive Vice President, Certis USA

Tim Damico is the Executive Vice President of Certis USA and a 20 year veteran of the company. He is responsible for guiding all of Certis’ commercial activities in North America. Damico previously has worked in sales, technical, international and managerial roles for Southern States Cooperative, Ciba-Geigy (currently Syngenta) and Great Salt Lake Minerals (now Compass Minerals) working with growers, ag retailers, distributors, and channel partners throughout the U.S. and other countries for more than 35 years.

Damico has been a BPIA member since 2006 and was elected to its Board of Directors in 2010 and also co-chairs the Specialty Markets Committee. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticultural Science from Pennsylvania State University. Currently resides near Baltimore, Md., with his wife of 35 years.

Certis USA is a pioneer in the development of biological pesticides and has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of biopesticides.  Certis specializes in biological product development from screening to formulation to field development to registration.   The manufacturing capabilities include both liquid and solid-state fermentation as well as plant extraction.  With 25 active ingredients and over 30 branded products, Certis USA is a proud supplier to the global biopesticide business.  

Owner/Operator, Duncan Family Farms

Arnott Duncan is a 4^th generation Arizona farmer who owns and operates Duncan Family Farms in Goodyear, Arizona. After receiving his degree in agronomy and plant genetics from the University of Arizona in 1982, Arnott returned to Central Arizona to work on his family’s cotton farm. In 1985 he decided to leave the family farm to establish his own farming operation.

Arnott married his wife, Kathleen in 1986 and by 1990 they were raising two sons and an increasing variety of fruits and vegetables on their farm. By 1994 the farm had expanded into organic production and today Duncan Family Farms grows year-round in Arizona, California, New York and Oregon.  All crops are Certified Organic and the list has included Beets, Kales, Chards, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Culinary Herbs, Strawberries and Organic Baby Lettuces and Spinach for processors who provide bagged salads to the retail and food service industries.  As his business has evolved, Arnott has managed to blend the best of traditional farming with the latest in agricultural technology. The establishment of a variety of innovative programs has led Duncan Family Farms to receive numerous awards and to become nationally recognized as a ‘showcase’ of progressive and environmentally sensitive farming techniques.

Duncan Family Farms Mission Statement:  At Duncan Family Farms we believe that our primary responsibility is to produce clean, healthy, life-giving food. We are also committed to making a strong contribution to an improved environment and to giving back to our community.

PCA and Agronomist, Grimmway Organic Farm

Gerald Davis has worked as an agronomist and pest control advisor for Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield, California, since 2001, where he oversees crop rotations and fertilization practices for 35 different types of vegetable and fruit crops. He has supervised and directed the growing and harvesting of potatoes, as well as in-house seed potato operations. He is also technical advisor for on-farm compost production. Prior to his work with Grimmway Organic, and its predecessor Cal-Organic Farms, Davis was owner and operator of the Connolly Orchard in Tehachapi, California. He holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Oregon State University and currently resides in Tehachapi, California. Davis is a former member of the National Organic Standards Board. He has a passion for biological farming techniques, which he puts into practice for the organic division of Grimmway Farms.

Family-owned Grimmway Farms began in 1969 when brothers Rod and Bob Grimm opened a produce stand in Southern California. Today, Grimmway is a global produce leader and the world’s largest carrot producer. Headquartered in Bakersfield, California, Grimmway supplies more than 135 products to our valued customers.  A division of Grimmway Farms, Cal-Organic has grown to operate across 40,000 acres of fully-owned, certified organic farmland in California, providing more than 65 premium quality crops year-round.  Grimmway is deeply committed to caring for customers and employees, honoring sustainable practices, and preserving natural resources for future generations.

General Coordinator, North and Central America, MPS; More Profitable Sustainability

Arthij van der Veer started working with Quality Certification at age 21. After concluding HEAO at the Haagse Hogeschool he embarked on a journey which has led him to visit over 50 countries. Passionate about languages speaking a total of 5 has helped him to navigate through during these journeys. At age 28 Arthij moved to Brasil to head the activities of MPS in Latin America. Living in Fortaleza he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening and working out / running. With the push towards Sustainability of the Green Industry in North America MPS asked him to head up their operations fulltime from July 1st 2017 onwards. Working with growers on improving their business and hearing about their succes stories are the best take-aways for Arthij.

MPS develops and manages sustainability certificates for the international flowers and ornamentals industry and conducts certification through its sister organisation MPS-ECAS. The MPS-ABC certificate is recognized around the world as the international standard. While based in the Netherlands, MPS is active in 46 countries. In total, more than 3,000 growers participate in MPS-ABC around the world (4,300 production locations). In North America 74 growers are currently participating in MPS-ABC.

Editor, American Vegetable Grower, Meister Media Worldwide, Inc.

Miller has been a lead editor in the ag industry since 1998, focusing on not only on commercial vegetable growing, but also ornamental growers, garden retailers, and farm marketers.

Editor, Greenhouse Grower
Meister Media Worldwide

Drotleff has nearly 20 years of experience covering the commercial greenhouse ornamentals market for Meister Media Worldwide’s Greenhouse Grower brand. She also has covered the fruit, vegetable, and garden retail markets over the years, and is working to expand Greenhouse Grower‘s coverage in additional controlled environment crops as the market expands. As lead editor of the market, she oversees the overall content direction in print, digital, and events for the Greenhouse Grower and Greenhouse Grower TECHNOLOGY brands. Drotleff is actively engaged in the market as a board member for the American Floral Endowment and Luxflora, and as Advisory Group member of Seed Your Future. She holds a B.S. from Michigan State University.