Bragg named president, CEO of Farmers' Rice Cooperative

The Farmers' Rice Cooperative recently announced Frank Bragg III will be taking over as president and chief executive officer.

The Sacramento-based, grower-owned rice marketing and processing cooperative includes 700 members and operates two rice mills at its milling center in West Sacramento.

It is one of the largest exporters of rice to customers around the world through the Port of West Sacramento.

Herb Holzapfel, chairman of the FRC board of directors, said Bragg was chosen after an extensive search process.

"I think he's a wonderfully qualified gentleman," Holzapfel said. "We had lots of good candidates but I think his experience was what helped make the decision. We certainly did our due diligence but I have great confidence in him. He's very grower-oriented and that's very important to us."

Bragg is winding down his duties as president and chief executive officer of MBG Marketing, a grower-owned blueberry marketing cooperative in Michigan.

He is a California native and served as president of the board of the YMCA of Sacramento and was co-chairman of a bond oversight committee for the Sacramento City Unified School District.

"He is active president and CEO right now, but he will be here in California in February," said William Huffman, a spokesman for Farmers' Rice. "He's got a lot of experience on the grower side, as well as the operation side of things."

Bragg succeeds Mike Sandrock, who is retiring after 28 years with the Farmers' Rice Cooperative.

Holzapfel said he is looking forward to Bragg stepping in as president.

"His experience in strategic planning, developing strategic alliances, adoption of new product launches and brand development will be vitally important as our cooperative moves forward striving to increase the value of our rice products, which will eventually add value to each and every member of the cooperative," Holzapfel said.