California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary A.G. Kawamura has appointed Nick Hill as chairman, Craig Armstrong as vice chairman, and Richard Bennett as secretary/treasurer of the newly formed California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee.

The committee was created to advise Secretary Kawamura and the agricultural industry about efforts to combat serious pests and diseases that threaten California’s citrus crop.

The committee was authorized through AB 281 signed into law on Oct. 9, 2009. The bill authorizes the collection of a grower-paid assessment to help fund citrus pest and disease management programs.

Hill is a diversified citrus grower with lemons, oranges, and mandarins. He is a former chairman of Citrus Mutual.

Armstrong is a diversified citrus producer growing mainly lemons, plus tangerines, grapefruit, and mandarins. He is a member of the Sunkist Board of Directors.

Bennett grows mandarins and oranges in Tulare County.