Here Are the New Appointees to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced the appointment of 23 members and alternate members to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) board. The appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately, through Dec. 31, 2028.

The newly appointed members are:

California
• Doug LaCroix, (Member)
• Randy Grimm, (Alternate)

Florida
• Brittany H. Lee, (Member)
• Michael Hill, (Alternate)

Georgia
• Tammy P. Brannen, (Member)
• Brandon W. Wade, (Alternate)

Michigan
• Dennis Vander Kooi, (Member)
• George Fritz, (Alternate)

New Jersey
• Matthew Macrie, (Member)

North Carolina
• Kristen Brinkley, (Member)
• H. Neil Moore, (Alternate)

Oregon
• Ellie Norris, (Member)
• Anna K. Jesse, (Alternate)

Washington
• Michele Cherchi, (Member)
• Bryan S. Sakuma, (Alternate)

Importer members
• Guy P. Cotton, California (Importer Member)
• Ian W. Grigg, Illinois (Importer Alternate)
• Ryan Lockman, Michigan (Importer Member)
• Harold F. Mongrut, Florida (Importer Alternate)
• Joe Barsi, California (Importer Member)
• Bo Slack, Washington (Importer Alternate)

Exporter members
• Sunny Brar, Canada (Exporter Member)
• Humraj Kallu, Canada (Exporter Alternate)

Ellie Norris, owner of Norris Farms in Oregon, was elected by her peers as chair of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. She will serve until Dec. 31, 2026. With the recent approval by Sec. Rollins, Norris will step into the role immediately.

Norris began her career on her family’s large-scale blueberry farm in Southern Oregon and today carries on its multigenerational farming legacy. She’s also the chair of the North American Blueberry Council’s (NABC) Government Affairs Committee, and will become chair of the NABC in 2027.

For more information, visit ushbc.blueberry.org.