Courtesy Western GrowersStephen Barnard (right), president of Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce Inc., is the new Western Growers board chairman. He succeeds Mike Jarrard, chief executive officer of Salinas, Calif.-based Mann Packing Co. Stephen Barnard, president of Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce Inc., was named board chairman of Western Growers Association at its annual meeting.
He succeeds Mike Jarrard, chief executive officer of Salinas, Calif.-based Mann Packing Co.
The trade association’s 87th annual meeting, with the theme “Focus on the Future,” was Nov. 11-14 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Attendance was 500, said Stephanie Wilken, communications manager.
Barnard started Mission Produce in 1983 as a regional avocado packer, now a national and international avocado marketer. He first served on the Western Growers board in 1996.
Vic Smith, president of Yuma, Ariz.-based JV Smith Companies, is vice chairman. Mark Teixeira, general manager of Teixeira Farms Inc., is treasurer; John Manfre of Frank Capurro & Son LLC is secretary.
New board members include David Dever, president of Sun World International; Terry Orr, packinghouse manager for Exeter-Ivanhoe Citrus Association; Ron Ratto, president of Ratto Bros. Inc.; and Dominic DiMare of DiMare Co.
Outgoing directors are John Powell Jr. and Steve Smith.
Speakers and workshop leaders at the annual meeting included David Gergen, senior political analyst for CNN; Doug Rauch, retired president of Trader Joe’s Co.; and Pamela Rutledge, director of the nonprofit Media Psychology Research Center.
Maggio honored
Western Growers gave its annual Award of Honor to Carl Sam Maggio, a founding partner in Coachella, Calif.-based Prime Time International.
The award marks a 55-year career in agriculture. His most recent venture was the addition of mini sweet peppers to Prime Time’s lineup.
Maggio was Western Growers chairman in 1992 and a board member in 1978 and 1980-1994.
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