SACRAMENTO -- The California Olive Committee, which handles marketing and research for the state's olive industry, will hold a pair of meetings next month to seek nominations for new members.

The new committee members would serve 2-year terms beginning June 1, taking an active role in shaping COC programs.

Meetings will be held Feb. 7 at the La Quinta Inn and Suites, 5438 West Cypress Ave., Visalia, and Feb. 11 at the Corning Veterans Hall, 1620 Solano St. Both meetings will be held from 1 to 3 p.m.

Growers unable to attend the meetings in their respective districts can submit nominations via phone, fax or email no later than seven days after the nomination meeting for their area.

Contact the COC office at (559) 456-9096, by fax at (559) 456-9099 or e-mail Denise Junquerio at denise@calolive.org .

Each grower may nominate as many members and alternates as wanted, including themselves. Members and alternates must be producers within the district from which they're nominated.

Once nominations are received, ballots will be mailed to growers in March.

-- Tim Hearden