U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has appointed 23 members and alternate members to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) board headquartered in Folsom, California. The appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately, through Dec. 31, 2028. Ellie Norris has been named chair. 

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)

Source:  US Highbush Blueberry Council April 14, 2026 press release