One day after a Salinas nonprofit published a glowing biennial report on its growth and success in organic farming and business incubation, its executive director of nine years left his post and a founding member stepped in as interim director. 


Since ALBA Organics was founded in 2003, sales have grown to more than $2 million (a 240-percent increase over the past two years) and it has become a thriving retail brand for the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association, an educational center that helps enterprising farmworkers bridge the gap to becoming farmers. Counting grants, sales revenue and small farm income, the organization estimates its programs contributed nearly $8 million to the local economy over the past two years. 


But that tally of successes wasn’t enough to keep former Executive Director Brett Melone on staff. In a press release dated July 1, ALBA announced Melone’s resignation. But in an interview earlier that day, interim Director Alfred Navarro said Melone’s departure was “a personnel matter,” and several sources close to the situation, on the condition of anonymity, say the board ousted him unexpectedly.


The newest board member, Tim York, president of the distributor Markon Cooperative, attributes at least part of ALBA’s recent success to Melone’s leadership. “I’m sure ALBA’s success is in part because of its leadership by Brett and many people who have worked there,” he says. 


As of June 27, Navarro stepped in as interim director (though his answering machine still features Melone’s voice.) 


Navarro, now retired, was a founder of Central Coast Counties Development Corporation, which in the ’70s bought the Bardin Ranch that went on to become ALBA’s 112-acre training site. Navarro served on the ALBA board for more than two years until stepping down in February to avoid a conflict of interest when he accepted a contract to consult on long-range business strategy. 


Ed Moncrief, board chair, did not respond to requests for comment. 


Adding to the tumult, one board member, Herb Aarons, resigned the week before Melone’s departure, but says his resignation was unrelated to Melone’s. Aarons served on the board for eight years. 


“It’s time for a new generation of people to get involved in ALBA,” he says. 


Melone says he’s most proud of ALBA’s evolution as a viable entity in the eyes of the mainstream agriculture industry. 


“ALBA is a model for economic opportunity,” he says. “There’s recognition that these are real farmers and they’re making a living. They are participating in the market. There’s proof of concept; people know it’s real.”


Melone’s not sure what his next move is, but he and his family will consider relocating for a good job opportunity. 


At ALBA, Navarro says it’s business as usual. Under Melone, ALBA developed a distribution system that includes grocery chains like Whole Foods, and already is considering expanding beyond fresh produce and testing strawberry popsicles. 


Twenty-five farmers graduated July 3 from a six-month ag business class, and nine were selected, based on their promising business plans, to lease half-acre plots from ALBA. “Things are operating smoothly and as normal,” Navarro says. “There is no difference as far as I can see.”