Oregon Grower Ellie Norris to Serve as Chair
FOLSOM, Calif., April 14, 2026 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the appointment of 23 members and alternate members to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) board. The appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately, through Dec. 31, 2028.
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)
Ellie Norris Named USHBC Chair
Ellie Norris, owner of Norris Farms in Oregon, has been elected by her peers as chair of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). She will serve until Dec. 31, 2026. With the recent approval by Sec. Rollins, Norris will step into the role immediately.
Norris began her career on her family’s large-scale blueberry farm in Southern Oregon and today carries on its multigenerational farming legacy. She’s also the chair of the North American Blueberry Council’s (NABC) Government Affairs Committee, and will become chair of the NABC in 2027.
“It’s an honor to serve the USHBC as chair and continue the work of strengthening our industry’s future through innovation and collaboration,” Norris said. “It’s a tough time to be a grower, particularly in the U.S., but it’s my belief that no other organization can do what the USHBC can do to create the opportunities for our growers to build the farm, business, life and legacy they want.”
The blueberry industry created USHBC 25 years ago to grow the entire category. The council exists to give more consumers in the U.S. more reasons to buy more blueberries, expand demand for U.S. blueberries in global markets and equip the industry for success through promotion, health research and providing industry services. Formed and funded by growers and importers, USHBC is mandated by the USDA to represent blueberries of all origins equally.
View all of our dedicated executive officers, council, committee and subcommittee members.
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About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
Established in 2000, The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USHBC represents highbush blueberry growers and packers in North and South America who market their blueberries in the United States and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the entire blueberry industry. USHBC was established by blueberry growers and currently has 2,500 growers, packers, exporters and importers. USHBC is committed to providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped in clean, safe environments. Learn more at ushbc.blueberry.org and blueberry.org