WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman of the Board Development Committee Steffanie Smith, River Point Farms, has announced the slate of new officers and directors nominated to serve on the United Fresh Produce Association Board of Directors, effective at its April 30, 2012 meeting in Dallas.
Ascending to Chairman of the Board isDavid W. Krause, President, Paramount Citrus, Delano, CA. David has lived in the Central Valley of California and worked in agriculture his whole life. He joined Paramount Citrus in 1999 as COO, and was named President in 2001. Paramount Citrus is the largest integrated grower and packer of citrus in California. Paramount owns and farms approximately 30,000 acres in various locations throughout California and Mexico. David is also a third generation farmer. He and his wife Lisa currently live on their ranch in the Orange Cove area, and they farm in both Fresno and Tulare counties. David has served in numerous industry roles, including the California Citrus Growers Association, California Citrus Mutual and the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. He has an A.S. degree in plant science from Reedley College in California.
Nominated as Chairman-Elect isRon Midyett, CEO of Apio Inc. Ron currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board. Prior to joining Apio in 2005, Ron held the position of Senior Vice President of Operations at Dole Fresh Vegetables. Ron received a degree in Food Biochemistry from the University of California at Davis and is an alumnus of Class 6 of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program.
Current Chairman,Reggie Griffin, retired Corporate Vice President, Produce & Floral Merchandising & Procurement, The Kroger Company, will move to the position of Immediate Past Chairman and remain on the Board and the Executive Committee.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as new members of the United Fresh Board for a two-year term beginning April 2012:
· Bill Brooks, Owner/Partner, Westlake Produce Company, Los Angeles, CA is a third generation potato salesman from Idaho. His grandfather and father were both cash track potato buyers for distributors in the East during the 1940s and ‘50s. Bill’s father moved his family to Southern California in the late 1950s and started Brooks & Sims Produce in 1962 with Joe Sims. Brooks & Sims specialized in potatoes and onions, which has been Bill’s specialty throughout his 40-year produce career.
· Jim Catchot, President and CEO, Renaissance Food Group, LLC, Rancho Cordova, CA, has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the produce and fresh food industry. Jim’s first entrepreneurial venture, JC Produce, was founded in 1980. The company distributed fresh produce to food service customers in Northern California. In 1990, JC Produce became a founding member in Pro*Act. Jim was the founding chairman and went on to serve as president/CEO. Launched in 2003, Renaissance Food Group is a national fresh food company that markets, produces and distributes its Garden Highway brand of fresh consumer food products into multiple retail channels. In 2011, Calavo Growers, Inc. acquired Renaissance Food Group which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Calavo.
· Greg Corrigan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral for Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, Sacramento, CA, began his career in the grocery industry in 1984 working for Bel Air Markets as he attended Sacramento State University where he achieved his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. Greg served as a produce manager at store level for 9 years, and in 1998 was promoted to District Produce and Floral Supervisor overseeing the store level operations for produce and floral in the South Division for Raley’s. In 2000, Greg was promoted to Director of Produce and Floral where his responsibilities included overseeing all procurement and merchandising for the four banner companies including Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill and Food Source. Greg has served on many boards and committees for the produce and floral industry including the PMA Retail Board, the Fresh Produce and Floral Council Board and the United Fresh Retail-Foodservice Board. Today Greg continues to oversee all the procurement and merchandising for the 128 store chain operating in Northern California and Northern Nevada.
· Tom Deardorff II, President and Co-Owner, Deardorff Family Farms, Oxnard, CA, is nominated to serve as Vice Chairman of the Grower-Shipper Board. Deardorff Family Farms was launched by Tom’s great grandfather W.H. Deardorff in 1937 and today is a fully integrated farming, packing, re-packing, shipping and marketing operation owned and operated by the family’s fourth generation. Tom graduated from the University of Southern California with a business degree and then from Southwestern Law School with a Juris Doctor. After practicing law for several years, he joined the family business fulltime in 1999. Tom has served on many industry boards, including the Ventura County Agricultural Association (past chairman); the California Tomato Commission (past Treasurer); and, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. He is currently serving on the Western Growers Association Board of Directors and was Chairman in 2011.
· Aaron Fox, Vice President – Sales and Administrative Issues, Fox Packaging, McAllen, TX joined the family business in 1994 after graduating from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. He received his undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Produce Association, has served on the United Fresh Grower-Shipper Board, and is a graduate of Class 3 of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program.
· Cindy Jewell, Director of Marketing, California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonville, CA is responsible for developing and executing all marketing and communications programs for California Giant, including its social media platform to engage co-partners in delivering health and fitness messaging and increasing visibility for the brand with consumers. Prior to joining California Giant, Cindy served as Executive Vice President of the California Strawberry Commission, where she worked for 19 years. She has served two terms on the United Fresh Grower-Shipper Board and previously held leadership positions at the Produce for Better Health Foundation. She is a graduate of Class 3 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.
· Kenny Lund, Vice President – Support Operations, Allen Lund Company, La Cañada, CA is nominated to serve as Chairman of the Supply Chain Logistics Council. Kenny is a graduate of Loyola Marymount with a degree in Business Administration. He joined the company in 1989 after three years of teaching and coaching at St. Francis High School in La Cañada. Kenny managed the Refrigerated Transportation Division in Los Angeles for eight years, handling loads mostly to the southeastern United States before shifting full time into being the newly formed Information and Technology Department in 1997. In November 2002 Kenny became Vice President of Information and Technology. In 2011 Kenny became a Certified Transportation Broker. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Transportation Intermediaries Association, as well as the United Fresh Supply Chain Logistics Council.
· Lisa McNeece, Vice President of Foodservice and Industrial Sales, Grimmway Enterprises Inc., Bakersfield, CA joined Grimmway in 1991 to coordinate sales and promotion of a “new” product – peeled baby carrots. She was promoted to her current position in 2001, where she responsible for business development and implementation of the carrot category for bulk and value added items. She has served on the PMA Board of Directors, the PMA Foodservice Board, the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent, the PBH Executive Board, and as a member of the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. She received the Packer’s Foodservice Achievement Award in 2008 and was also recognized as an industry leader in The Packer 25.
· Kevin Moffitt, President/CEO, Pear Bureau Northwest, Portland, OR, is responsible for strategic direction, advertising and market promotion, reporting and regulatory functions for this non-profit trade association representing 1,500 growers. He is also Managing Director of the federal marketing order for fresh pears in Oregon and Washington. He previously served as Executive Vice President, and Vice President, International Marketing before his appointment as President in 2001. He was previously employed in marketing by Sun Diamond Growers of California, and began his career at Dole Food Company in 1981. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1980 from the University of Oregon, in Eugene.
· Bob Morrissey, Executive Director, National Watermelon Association, Lakeland, FL is a 1980 graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. He has well-rounded career in produce, serving 16 years in the retail industry including a regional Massachusetts chain Fernandez, Albertsons and The Kroger Company; 15 years in marketing at the PIA Merchandising Company and the Florida Department of Citrus, and 8 years in the trade association sector. As the Executive Director of one of the country’s oldest commodity associations, one of his primary responsibilities is to handle all federal lobbying activities on behalf of the industry. Bob serves on the National Watermelon Promotion Board, and from 2007-2008 served as the Vice Chairman of the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
· Sean Picquelle, Produce Manager, Taco Bell, Irvine, CA, is nominated to serve as Vice Chairman of the Retail-Foodservice Board. Sean received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science & Nutrition from Chapman University in Orange, CA, and has 15 years experience in the food industry, including juice processing, spices, fresh cut vegetable processing, commissary, and fresh food manufacturing. For the past six years at Taco Bell, he has been a strong voice on the United Fresh Food Safety & Technology Council, addressing supply chain food safety practices.
· Rob Schrick, Strategic Business Management Lead for Horticulture, Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, NC, graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Business Management, during which time he worked for the USDA Grain Marketing and Research Center. He was born and raised in Kansas, working for the family owned crop protection, fertilizer and custom application business. Schrick began his professional career in 1992 as a sales representative with Rhone-Poulenc Agro, based in Willmar, MN. In 1997 he moved into marketing for Aventis CropScience and in 2004 took an international assignment with Bayer CropScience, in Monheim Germany. Returning to the US in the fall of 2009, he took the position of Strategic Business Entity Lead for Bayer’s US Herbicides and Traits.
· Lisa Strube, Director of Finance and Administration, Strube Celery & Vegetable Co., Chicago, IL, is nominated to serve as Vice Chair of the Wholesaler-Distributor Board. Lisa began her produce career at Strube in 1989, working in almost all aspects of the business until being appointed to her present position in 2005. She was chosen as one of the Produce Business Forty Under 40, served on the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee for four years, is a graduate of Class 12 of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership program, and has served on its Alumni Board.
· Mike Wootton, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations & Administration, Sunkist Growers, Sherman Oaks, CA, leads Sunkist relations with federal and state governments, oversight of state and federal political action committees, participation in trade policy development, and manages all public and media relations, relations between Sunkist and its grower members and affiliated packinghouses, corporate communications with growers and shippers, management of member agreements. Mike oversees Sunkist departments including Human Resources, Food Safety, Research and Technical Services (Engineering and Manufacturing), Fruit Sciences, Corporate Communications and Grower/Shipper Relations. Prior to joining Sunkist, Mike served on the congressional staffs in California and Washington for four Republican Members of Congress and two Republican U.S. Senators, all from California, over a period of 24 years.
Current Board members nominated to new positions of service on Market Segment Boards and Councils include:
· Chairman, Grower Shipper Board –Will Steele, Frontera Produce
· Chairman, Wholesaler Distributor Board –Ron Carkoski, Four Seasons Produce, Inc.
· Chairman, Retail-Foodservice Board –Randy Scott, Delhaize America
The following officers of Market Segment Boards and Councils will continue service on the Board:
· Chairman, Fresh-Cut Processor Board –Jan Berk, San Miguel Produce, Inc.
· Vice Chairman, Fresh-Cut Processor Board –Tony Freytag, Crunch Pak Sliced Apples
· Chairman, Global Advisory Council –Paddy Callaghan, Nature’s Best Ltd.
· Chairman, Nutrition & Health Council – Dan’l Mackey Almy, DMA Solutions, Inc.
· Chairman, Food Safety & Technology Council –Walter Ram, The Giumarra Companies
· Chairman, Government Relations Council –Barry Bedwell, California Grape & Tree Fruit League
The following current At-Large Board Members will continue service on the Board:.;Steve Burnham, Safeway, Inc.; John Chrosniak, DuPont Crop Protection;Scott Danner, Liberty Fruit Co., Inc.; Emily Fragoso, Status Gro; David Hille, Cabbage Inc.; Ana Hooper, Darden Restaurants; Joe Huston,Chiquita Brands International, Inc.; John Keeling, National Potato Council; Lorri Koster, Mann Packing Company;Angela Nardone, N2N Global; Roger Pepperl, Stemilt Growers, LLC; Dave Russell, Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A.; Ivan Tarriba, Farmers Best International, LLC;Greg Wohlleb, Bunzl Distribution, Inc.; and Jackson Woodward, Horton Fruit Company.
“In total, the slate of nominees for our consolidated Board of Directors, together with our returning Board members and new officers, makes this a tremendously diverse and skilled set of leaders to represent our entire industry and guide our association in the year ahead,” said Board Development Committee Chairman Steffanie Smith.
Board members concluding service at the April 30 meeting include:
· Steffanie Smith, River Point Farms LLC, who served as Chairman of the Board in 2010-2011, and this past year as Immediate Past Chairman
· Brendan Comito,Capital City Fruit Company, who served as Chairman of the Wholesaler-Distributor Board
· Mitch Smith,McDonald’s, who served as Chairman of the Retail-Foodservice Board
· Fred Williamson,Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, who served as Chairman of the Grower-Shipper Board
· Dave Dever,Sun World International, who served as Chairman of the Supply Chain Logistics Council
· Mike Celani, Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
· Tony DiMare, DiMare Company
· Roger Harkrider, H-E-B
· Brent Harrison, Al Harrison Co. Distributors
· Mike Martin, Rio Queen, Inc.
· Phil Muir, Muir Copper Canyon Farms
· Mark Murai, California Strawberry Commission
· Bruce Peterson, Peterson Insights, Inc.
· John Smith, Bayer Crop Science
“I’d like to personally thank those leaders who are concluding their service at this meeting,” said United Fresh President Tom Stenzel. “They have contributed greatly to our industry’s success in so many ways, and we appreciate the time and resources they have given to serve our industry. I’d also like to thank Steffanie Smith and Board Development Committee members Will Steele, Ron Carkoski, Tony Freytag, Randy Scott, Reggie Griffin, David Krause and Ron Midyett for their work this year in nominating an outstanding slate of officers and Board members. We recognize that the strength of our association comes from strong representation of our membership across the total supply chain, bringing together an exceptional group of leaders to serve our industry.”
Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.
Source: United Fresh Produce Association