Latest News From Packer 25

2022 Packer 25 — Matt Schwartz
2022 Packer 25 — Matt Schwartz

Matt Schwartz is the CEO and co-founder of Afresh, San Francisco, Calif.

2022 Packer 25 — Vic Savanello
2022 Packer 25 — Vic Savanello

Vic Savanello is the regional vice president of produce and floral, SpartanNash, Grand Rapids, Mich.

2022 Packer 25 — Will Rehrig
2022 Packer 25 — Will Rehrig

Will Rehrig is the president of Rehrig Pacific Company in Vernon, Calif.

2022 Packer 25 — Chris Romano
2022 Packer 25 — Chris Romano

Chris Romano is the vice president of produce, floral and gifts at The Fresh Market, Greensboro, N.C.

2022 Packer 25 — Mollie Van Lieu
2022 Packer 25 — Mollie Van Lieu

Mollie Van Lieu is the vice president of nutrition and health at International Fresh Produce Association.

2022 Packer 25 — Marliese Myers
2022 Packer 25 — Marliese Myers

Marliese Myers was formerly the marketing director at Lakeside Organic Gardens. She has since taken a role as customer marketing director at Farm Journal, crops division.

2022 Packer 25 — Allison Moore
2022 Packer 25 — Allison Moore

Allison Moore is the executive vice president at Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in Nogales, Ariz.

2022 Packer 25 — Jim Mills
2022 Packer 25 — Jim Mills

Jim Mills is partner and consumer business leader for Pacific Southwest region of Deloitte & Touche.

2022 Packer 25 — Jeff Mallory
2022 Packer 25 — Jeff Mallory

Jeff Mallory is vice president of produce operations at Hy-Vee, Inc. in West Des Moines, Iowa.

2022 Packer 25 — Kay Kurtzweil Greenley
2022 Packer 25 — Kay Kurtzweil Greenley

Kay Kurtzweil Greenley is the merchandising supervisor at Indianapolis Fruit.

2022 Packer 25 — Brian Klumpp
2022 Packer 25 — Brian Klumpp

Brian Klumpp is the director of marketing and strategic development at North Bay Produce Inc. in Traverse City, Mich.

2022 Packer 25 — George Harter
2022 Packer 25 — George Harter

George Harter is the vice president of special projects at CMI Orchards in Wenatchee, Wash.

2022 Packer 25 — Leah Halverson
2022 Packer 25 — Leah Halverson

Leah Halverson is the founder and CEO of Ten Acre Marketing based in Grand Forks, N.D.

2022 Packer 25 — Dante Galeazzi
2022 Packer 25 — Dante Galeazzi

Dante Galeazzi is the president of the Texas International Produce Association.

2022 Packer 25 — Ryan Fernandes
2022 Packer 25 — Ryan Fernandes

Ryan Fernandes is the produce manager at Longo Brothers Fruit Markets in Ontario, Canada.

2022 Packer 25 — Kim Chackal
2022 Packer 25 — Kim Chackal

Kim Chackal is the director of sales and marketing at Equifruit in Montreal, Canada.

2022 Packer 25 — Nick Carter
2022 Packer 25 — Nick Carter

Nick Carter is the CEO and co-founder of Market Wagon based in Indianapolis, Ind.

2022 Packer 25 — Troy Bland
2022 Packer 25 — Troy Bland

Troy Bland is the CEO of Bland Farms based in Glennville, Ga.

2022 Packer 25 — Joe Atchison
2022 Packer 25 — Joe Atchison

Joe Atchison is the assistant secretary and director of marketing and development of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

2022 Packer 25 — Jay Alley
2022 Packer 25 — Jay Alley

Jay Alley, co-owner and vice president of sales for Fresh Innovations LLC, home of Yo Quiero Brands, Rhome, Texas.

Introducing the 2022 Packer 25
Introducing the 2022 Packer 25

The 2022 Packer 25 is our annual tribute to 25 leaders, innovators and agents of change across the fresh produce supply chain.

2022 Packer 25 — Jessica Wells
2022 Packer 25 — Jessica Wells

Jessica Wells is the executive director for Crunch Time Apple Growers, Lockport, N.Y.

2022 Packer 25 — Kellen Stailey Martin
2022 Packer 25 — Kellen Stailey Martin

Kellen Stailey Martin is the vice president of marketing at Hazel Technologies, Chicago, Ill.

2022 Packer 25 — Deep Silver
2022 Packer 25 — Deep Silver

Deep Silver is the senior marketing director at Boskovich Farms, Oxnard, Calif.

2022 Packer 25 — Kenny Lund
2022 Packer 25 — Kenny Lund

Kenny Lund is the executive vice president of Allen Lund Company logistics division in Louisville, Ky.

Packer 25 2021 — Carole Christianson
Packer 25 2021 — Carole Christianson

As the emphasis on fresh food continues to grow and be a larger point of differentiation, the WAFC is seeking to incorporate producers and suppliers at our annual convention to grow this business for all.

Packer 25 2021 — Brian Dey
Packer 25 2021 — Brian Dey

I needed a job and I ended up migrating to the produce department. Little did I know that my first task of wrapping cases of Andy Boy iceberg lettuce would turn into a lifelong passion of produce and merchandising.

Packer 25 2021 — Carrie Mack
Packer 25 2021 — Carrie Mack

One thing that I’m really proud of over probably the last year is my team. My team over this last year and a half has had a lot of challenges and my team really faced and overcame them, said Carrie Mack of Walmart.

Packer 25 2021 — Ed Treacy
Packer 25 2021 — Ed Treacy

"I am most proud of the positive influence I have had on many people’s career development. My proudest moments have been when people working for me have been promoted," said Ed Treacy, Produce Marketing Association.

Packer 25 2021 — Janice Honigberg
Packer 25 2021 — Janice Honigberg

"Fruits and vegetables are my babies. With improved genetics and growing practices, so many fruits have better flavor these days," said Janice Honigberg, president of Sun Belle.

Packer 25 2021 — Davis Yung
Packer 25 2021 — Davis Yung

I truly believe leaders need to have a servant mentality. Leaders are fortunate to be in a position of influence and we should take this opportunity to make this world a slightly better place when we can.

Packer 25 2021 — Phillip Grant
Packer 25 2021 — Phillip Grant

What's a little-known or fun fact about you? "I love to fly and hope to one day complete the requirements for my pilot’s license," said Phillip Grant, general manager Hunts Point Produce Market.

Packer 25 2021 — Priscilla Lleras-Bush
Packer 25 2021 — Priscilla Lleras-Bush

The produce industry is a relationship industry. I’m most grateful for my group of network contacts, associates, peers and friends who’ve been growing since 1991.

Packer 25 2021 — Stephanie Bazan
Packer 25 2021 — Stephanie Bazan

I spent four years working in the circus! Everyone thinks I was a performer when I say that, but I worked as a marketing promoter for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. It was a great marketing training ground.

Packer 25 2021 — James Braswell
Packer 25 2021 — James Braswell

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? "Being one of the original members involved in creating Fresh Thyme and opening 70+ stores in five years," said James Braswell, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market.

Packer 25 2021 — Rob Ybarra
Packer 25 2021 — Rob Ybarra

I began in the produce industry as a 12-year-old selling corn and watermelons off my dad’s pickup truck during summers in Brownsville, Texas.

Packer 25 2021 — Sherrie Terry
Packer 25 2021 — Sherrie Terry

I’ve worked at Dr. Scholl’s Footcare, Banquet Frozen Foods, Vlasic Foods and Chiquita Brands International. Today, I work with a variety of companies through my marketing company, Sherrie Terry Consulting.

Packer 25 2021 — Susan McAleavey Sarlund
Packer 25 2021 — Susan McAleavey Sarlund

What does leadership mean to you? "Setting the tone for an organization, surrounding yourself with good people, developing and cultivating relationships and moving forward into the future," said Susan McAleavey Sarlund.

Packer 25 2021 - Brian Reeves
Packer 25 2021 - Brian Reeves

Farming is kind of a whole lifestyle. You’ve heard this before from farmers: it’s your work, it’s your lifestyle, it’s your life. It’s what I’ve done most of my life... that’s as much passion as there is.

Packer 25 2021 — Rafael Morera
Packer 25 2021 — Rafael Morera

My passion for produce began during the time I worked for Publix supermarkets starting in 1989. My produce journey took me all the way to the produce manager role in 1993, where I broke district sales records.

The Packer 25 2021: Mike Roberts
The Packer 25 2021: Mike Roberts

I’ve had the privilege to form relationships over the years with so many people we do business with, who become friends more than colleagues.

Packer 25 2021 - Brent Erenwert
Packer 25 2021 - Brent Erenwert

I have been very fortunate over my career to have had many great achievements. Though my biggest accomplishment as a professional has been helping migrate my father’s company into an industry recognized brand.

Packer 25 2021 — Chris Miller
Packer 25 2021 — Chris Miller

About three weeks in, there was a blizzard, and I was a newbie closing the department on my own. It was the craziest, most frenetic work environment ... I got the produce bug quick and haven’t turned back.

Packer 25 2021 — Claudia Harumi Kuniyoshi
Packer 25 2021 — Claudia Harumi Kuniyoshi

I was in the Midwest and decided I wanted to do greenhouse research. I was studying crop protection for corn and soybeans.

Packer 25 2021 — J.M. Procacci
Packer 25 2021 — J.M. Procacci

During my career I’ve worked for several divisions of Procacci Holdings. Until 2007, my education was not very complete in the produce industry.

Packer 25 2021 - Candice Herndon
Packer 25 2021 - Candice Herndon

I got my start in the produce/food supply chain industry with CHEP in 2006. While in university my interest in the supply chain grew as I learned about all the pieces of the puzzle and how they all fit.

Packer 25 2021 — Irving Fain
Packer 25 2021 — Irving Fain

As a serial entrepreneur, I’ve always believed that technology and human ingenuity could solve hard and important problems…

Packer 25 2021 — Mike Mauti
Packer 25 2021 — Mike Mauti

Produce is in my genes. My first job after graduating from university was with Canada’s premier grocery company.

Packer 25 2021 — Mary Coppola Heslep
Packer 25 2021 — Mary Coppola Heslep

For years I would preach from the BrandStorm stage about the trends in brand marketing and small but impactful strategies to grow individual businesses and overall consumption of fresh produce through marketing.

Packer 25 2021 — Shawn Peery
Packer 25 2021 — Shawn Peery

"I started in the grocery industry in 1986 at a small independent in Klamath Falls, Ore., called Y Market Basket. I fell in love with produce from Day 1."