National
Citrus
Nursery
Association
NCNA
Meet Our Leadership Team
Founder
Nate Jameson
National Citrus Nursery Initiative was spearheaded by Nate Jameson with a vision to promote and support citrus nursery practices. With years of experience in the field, Nate is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with growers and enthusiasts alike. He is actively involved in the citrus industry and holds the position of President Elect of the International Society of Citrus Nurserymen (ISCN). He is also part of the National Clean Plant Network for Citrus (NCPN-Citrus), a network of industry members, experts in plant pathology, regulators and clean plant centers that provides healthy citrus material to the citrus industry in the United States.
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For more details, please visit the Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery, LLC website.
Volunteer Coordinator
Deborah Pagliaccia
Deborah Pagliaccia is the Executive Director of the California Citrus Nursery Society and a scientist at the University of California Riverside who oversees the day-to-day operations of National Citrus Nursery Initiative website. She is committed to providing quality resources and initiative updates to our community of growers and enthusiasts.
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For more details, please visit the Lab To Farm website.
Volunteer Member
Aaron Dillon
Aaron Dillon is a key member of Four Winds Growers, a family-owned citrus nursery based in Watsonville, California. This company represents a long-standing family tradition in the agricultural sector, being four generations old. Four Winds Growers, under the stewardship of individuals like Aaron Dillon, continues to contribute significantly to the citrus nursery industry. The legacy of the company can be traced back to its founders, Floyd Dillon and his son Don Sr., who were pioneers in their field. Aaron Dillon upholds this legacy, contributing to the ongoing success and innovation within the company.
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For more details, please visit the Four Winds Growers website.
Volunteer Member
Heidi Cervantes
Heidi Cervantes is the Sales Manager at TreeSource Citrus Nursery, located in Exeter, California. She plays a crucial role in managing sales operations and customer relationships. With her expertise, Heidi contributes significantly to TreeSource, a full-service commercial citrus nursery serving both the California citrus industry and greenhouse growers globally.
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For more details, please visit the Tree Source Citrus Nursery website.
Volunteer Member
Ricky Becnel
Ricky Becnel is a key figure at Saxon Becnel & Sons, a prominent citrus tree nursery in Louisiana and Texas. The company is known for its dedication to producing premium citrus trees, starting from certified seeds. Ricky Becnel, through his leadership and expertise, has been instrumental in maintaining the high standards and quality of their citrus products, catering to both local and national markets.
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For more details, please visit Saxon Becnel & Sons.
Volunteer Member
Clay Lamar
Clay Lamar is the founder of 1 DOG Ventures, Georgia's first citrus-only commercial tree nursery located in Sale City. With a rich family history in agriculture spanning over 70 years, Clay transitioned from traditional row cropping to citrus cultivation after the tobacco buyout in the early 2000s. His passion for citrus led him to learn from global experts, eventually meeting Dr. Wayne Hanna and embracing cold-hardy citrus varieties developed at the University of Georgia. Under his leadership, 1 DOG Ventures, established in 2015, exclusively licensed unique cold-tolerant citrus cultivars, marking a new era in commercial citrus farming.
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For more details, please visit 1 DOG Ventures website
Volunteer Member
Kitti Cooper
Kitti Cooper is the Manager at Cooper Farm, a family-owned business located in Alabama. She plays a pivotal role in managing the farm's operations, which specialize in high-quality agricultural products. Cooper Farm is recognized for its commitment to sustainable farming practices and its contribution to the local agricultural community.
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For more details, please visit Cooper Farm's website.
Volunteer Member
Dave Kerr
David Kerr is the General Manager at Glen Flora Farm, which is part of Everde Growers. Glen Flora Farm, under his management, boasts 1,150 acres, including extensive greenhouse and shade space. Dave's leadership contributes to the farm's success in the agriculture industry, particularly in the cultivation of various plants and trees.
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For more details, you can visit the Everde Growers' Glen Flora Farm webpage.
Volunteer Member
Danny Finch
Danny Finch is the President of Record Buck Farms, Inc., celebrated for producing Florida's finest container-grown citrus. Under his guidance, the farm has become a leader in the citrus industry, focusing on quality, innovation, and sustainability. Danny's commitment to excellence and strategic vision have not only advanced Record Buck Farms but also reinforced Florida's legacy in citrus cultivation, catering to both commercial and residential markets with top-tier products.
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For more details, you can visit the Record Buck Farms webpage.
List of citrus nursery associations by state - Coming next
TEXAS Nursery & Landscape Association
TNLA
The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) supports Texas’s Green Industry by building a strong, collaborative community that empowers individuals and businesses. TNLA connects members with valuable resources, education, and advocacy to enhance industry success and sustainability. For those who are interested in joining, TNLA offers opportunities for:
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Membership: Access to networking, education, and advocacy benefits.
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Certification: Programs that recognize expertise and elevate industry standards.
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Lobbying & Partnerships: Opportunities to influence policy and drive growth.
For membership, certification, or partnership information, contact TNLA through their official channels.
CALIFORNIA Citrus Nursery Society
CCNS
The California Citrus Nursery Society (CCNS) is a non-profit industry association helping the citrus nursery industry of California become more successful. CCNS provides an exchange for information useful to the citrus nursery industry. It holds an Annual Conference and several single-purpose meetings each year to disseminate information and/or to serve as forums for industry representatives to develop positions on matters of interest to the industry. CCNS is here to help the citrus nursery industry.
For more information or to join CCNS, please contact:
Deborah Pagliaccia, Ph.D.
California Citrus Nursery Society Executive Director
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FLORIDA Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association
FNGLA
The Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association is a member-driven association that recognizes the need for individual industry members to unify. FNGLA works to better the industry, raising the bar on professionalism by spearheading marketing programs, providing promotional and educational venues for members, taking a leadership role in protecting and promoting our members' business interests, communicating the latest industry issues and providing professional accreditation to interested individuals.
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For more information, contact:
Phone: 800-375-3642
Email: info@fngla.org