Since 1985, Dr. Roberta Cook has been the Cooperative Extension Marketing Economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) at University of California, Davis.  She conducts an applied research and industry outreach program focusing on the marketing and international trade of fresh fruits and vegetables, including studies on international competitiveness, industry structure and procurement practices, the North American fresh tomato industry, and trends in consumer demand and food distribution.  

Dr. Cook currently serves on the Board of Directors of Ocean Mist Farms and Village Farms, and in December 2011 completed 11 years of service on the Board of Naturipe Farms. She has served on numerous PBH committees and is a member of the Monsanto Vegetable Seeds Advisory Council. She was honored as one of the top 25 produce industry leaders for 2011 by The Packer. From 2003 to 2011, she served as Faculty Director of the California Agribusiness Executive Seminar, a program co-sponsored by the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis,and Wells Fargo Bank.

She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University.