Grimmway Produce Group Senior Vice President of Farming brings more than two decades of agricultural leadership to a second term advising the EPA on issues facing American farmers and rural communities

Bakersfield, CA – August 3, 2026 – Russell L. Hamlin, Ph.D., Grimmway Produce Group (GPG) Senior Vice President of Farming, has been reappointed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to serve on the agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC).

Hamlin was first appointed to the FRRCC in November 2024 and has been named to the newest slate of appointees on the 21-member committee. The FRRCC provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on critical environmental issues affecting agriculture and rural communities, including water and air quality, pesticide management, conservation practices, and technological innovation.

“Russ’s reappointment is recognition of the depth of experience he has built over nearly 25 years in production agriculture,” said GPG President and CEO Ken Silveira. “His continued role on the FRRCC ensures that growers, and the organic and specialty crop sector in particular, remain strongly represented at the federal level.”

He is a current member and former chair of the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Organics Committee, has chaired the California Fresh Carrot Advisory Board since 2021, and serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the Grimm Family Center for Organic Research and Education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo – leadership roles that reflect his standing as one of the industry’s most trusted voices on specialty crop production.

“My work on the FRRCC is both an honor and a responsibility,” Hamlin said. “Farmers and ranchers need practical, workable federal policies and regulations. I’ve spent my career in the field, and I look forward to bringing that farming perspective to the EPA as we work together to tackle issues including water quality, land and water conservation, and the next generation of precision agriculture.”

The FRRCC’s newly seated team will focus on several priorities, including improvements to EPA’s technical assistance for rural communities, education on the use of artificial intelligence for precision pesticide application, and balancing agricultural conservation and reducing nutrient pollution with long-term farm viability. For more information, please visit the EPA website.

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About Grimmway Produce Group
Grimmway Produce Group (GPG) is a family of companies who together are a global produce leader and North America’s premier grower, shipper, and processor of carrots, potatoes, and organic vegetables. Operating across nineteen U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, we select each growing region for its ability to deliver fresh, high-quality produce year-round. With a network of twenty facilities and hundreds of field operations, we ensure our customers have consistent access to produce they can trust. At Grimmway Produce Group, growth means investing in our operations, the land, our people, and the communities we serve.