Wendy Brannen, who led communication and public relations efforts for Vidalia onions and U.S. apples, is the new director of policy communication for the American Soybean Association.
Brannen first became involved with the fresh produce industry in July 2005, when she became executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee. During her eight years in the Vidalia onion role, she oversaw popular promotions included a program featuring Shrek the ogre from the DreamWorks movies.
She became director of consumer health and public relations for the U.S. Apple Association in 2013. In Oct. 2016, she became executive director of the Lodi (Calif.) Winegrape Commission.
“Wendy brings a breadth of knowledge and experience in agriculture, media and marketing to our communications team,” American Soybean Association CEO Ryan Findlay said in a news release.
Brannen will be based in Washington, D.C., and succeeds Patrick Delaney, who is also familiar to the fresh produce industry. Delaney, the former communications manager for the United Fresh Produce Association, became the soybean group’s director of policy communication in 2011.
This spring, Delaney was hired as Democratic communications director for the House Agriculture Committee Minority.
