RUTHVEN, Ontario – Chris Jacobs, president of Clifford Produce, announced today that the greenhouse grower has named Steve Probstfield as director of business development. Probstfield, who will operate from Springfield, Mo., is a seasoned industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience working with fresh fruits and vegetables.
At Clifford, Probstfield will be responsible for national account development, including building supply chain partnerships with foodservice and retail operations. He will also help the company to identify and satisfy customer needs and to manage product quality.
“We are thrilled to welcome Steve to our team,” said Jacobs. “He will help us to ensure that Clifford continues to provide safe, consistently high quality, and fully traceable greenhouse vegetables for our clients.”
Probstfield recently stepped down as chief operating officer of NationFresh, LLC, where, for more than five years, he was responsible for managing all sales and marketing and business development efforts for tomatoes and vegetables. Prior to his experience with NationFresh, Probstfield spent 36 years with Sunkist Growers, Inc. in various managerial roles and, ultimately, as Sunkist’s director of foodservice sales.
“I am very excited and pleased to have the opportunity to be joining Clifford Produce,” said Probstfield. “Clifford has proven itself an industry leader in terms of product quality, food safety, commitment to Good Agricultural Practices, traceability and distribution. And despite its big grower capacity, Clifford is still committed to the ‘family farm’ way of doing business. I look forward to helping Clifford develop relationships within the industry and providing the superior quality produce that people have come to expect from the Clifford name.”
Clifford Produce, which first began greenhouse production in 1976, is HAACP and food safety certified. The company specializes in beefsteak, on-the-vine, pink and heirloom tomatoes; red, orange, yellow and green sweet peppers; seedless and baby seedless cucumbers; as well as baby eggplant. Its premium produce is marketed under the Clifford Produce, Paysanne, and the new Family Farms labels. More information is available at www.cliffordproduce.com.
Source: Clifford Produce