Success & Service: Modestan leading leafy greens marketing group

The California Leafy Green Product Handlers Marketing Agreement’s new chairman is Ron Ratto, president of Modesto-based Ratto Bros. Inc., whose family began growing vegetables in California over 100 years ago and today produces a number of leafy greens products including chard, mustard greens, leaf lettuces and cabbage. Ron will serve as the fourth chairman of the LGMA, founded in 2007 after an outbreak of E. coli that sickened over 200 people.

Orchestra hands out scholarships

The Modesto Symphony Orchestra named its two scholarship winners for 2015. Vanessa Lopez, a senior at Beyer High School, earned the MSO Guild Scholarship of $2,500.

A member of the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, she plays primarily the flute and piccolo. She was named all-state in honor band and performed in the Beyer Marching Band. She plans to attend UCLA in the fall.

And the $500 award went to Rodolfo Mendoza, a senior at Pitman High School in Turlock. Playing the violin and viola, he performed in the school’s concert and chamber orchestras, and also with the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra. He plans to attend California State University, Stanislaus.

Congressional merit honorees

Twenty-five students from Central Valley high schools received Congressional Merit Awards and a hearty handshake from U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham. Students were recognized for their academic, civic and extracurricular achievements.

Winners were: Amanda Cockrell, Hughson High; Namrta Gill, Lathrop High; Riley Cardoza, Sierra High; Prachi Bulsara, Grace Davis High; Damaris Esquivel, Enochs High; Ryan Distaso, Beyer High; Tanner Goudeau, Gregori High; Marisa Bearden, Johansen High; Brooke Kumiko Sanpei, Patterson High; Courtney Bloemhof, Ripon Christian High; Alex Xu, West High; Ben Marson, Pitman High; Trevor Beach, Orestimba High; Evan Hiatt; Modesto Christian High; Rebekah Ferrante; Valley Charter High; Bailey Dokoozlian, Big Valley Christian High; Peter Rodriguez, Whitmore Charter High; Estefany Jauregui, East Union High; Krupa Modi, Modesto High; Inayat Sahota, Central Valley High; Joel Thorton, Denair High; Lloyd (Nate) Overholtzer, Downey High; Mayra Escarsega, Harvest High; Susana Sevilla Morales, Argus High; and Patricia Perez Duarte, Waterford High.

City recognizes companies for compliance

The Environmental Compliance Section of the Wastewater Division of the city of Modesto’s Utilities Department recognized nine local industries for their work in the industrial pretreatment compliance program.

The honorees are Foam Fabricators, for the third straight year; G-3 Enterprises’ Closure Division, second straight year; Georgia Pacific, third straight year; Bunge Oils, second consecutive year; Seneca; Modesto Plating and Powder, second consecutive year; Nestlé; HM Clause; and Alvarado Pumping.

This story was originally published May 9, 2015 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Success & Service: Modestan leading leafy greens marketing group."