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Friday, August 21, 2026

American Pistachio Growers Names Its CEO

Starting September 1, Mike Forbes will become president and CEO of the American Pistachio Growers. Forbes brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the food, consumer products, and wellness sectors. A Wisconsin native with agricultural roots, Forbes grew up in 4-H and comes from a family of farmers. He held leadership roles at Jim Beam, Procter & Gamble, and General Mills before shifting his focus to food and wellness. He later spent nearly a decade with California Olive Ranch, served as CEO of Alter Eco, and held executive leadership roles with Safely, MaryRuth Organics, and The Vitamin Shoppe, where he helped drive growth, expand retail partnerships, and strengthen consumer and digital businesses. “APG has a long record of success, and I can't wait to get started, meet our members, and help build on that momentum as we continue growing demand for American pistachios around the world," Forbes says. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honors from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an MBA from Harvard Business School.