The California Macadamia Society has named Temecula grower Kurt Merrill as its new President, continuing a leadership tradition that stretches back more than seven decades. Merrill becomes the 15th president in the Society’s history.
Founded in 1953, the California Macadamia Society was established to support California’s developing macadamia industry through grower education, variety evaluation, research and the exchange of practical information. Its leadership history includes generations of growers, researchers and agricultural advocates who helped shape macadamia production in the state.
Merrill succeeds longtime President Tom Rastle, who remains involved with the Society and continues to serve on its Board of Directors.
“It is an honor to step into an organization with this kind of history,” Merrill said. “There are macadamia trees and small groves scattered throughout California, but many growers are no longer connected to one another. Our goal is to reconnect that community, preserve the knowledge that still exists and create a stronger future for California-grown macadamias.”
The Society’s renewed statewide focus includes rebuilding membership, identifying and connecting growers, documenting historic cultivars and grower knowledge, expanding educational resources, strengthening grower-to-grower communication and building greater awareness of California-grown macadamias as a distinctive specialty crop.
The organization is also expanding year-round programming. A Spring Growers Conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 3, 2027, at a working Southern California macadamia grove, with practical education and discussion on tree care, irrigation, pruning, fertilization, cultivar identification, harvesting and post-harvest handling.
Membership is open to growers of all sizes—from people with a few backyard trees to small-grove owners
For more information: https://californiamacadamiasociety.com/
Media Contact: Christi Caruso, Secretary | info@californiamacadamiasociety.com | 951-999-8592