The 2023 Packer 25 — Kelsey Van Lissum

Editor’s note: The following profile is from the 2023 Packer 25, our annual tribute to 25 leaders, innovators and agents of change across the fresh produce supply chain. (You can view all honorees here.) This feature has been edited for length and clarity.

Kelsey Van Lissum — Marketing communications manager, Oppy

What inspires you most about the fresh produce industry and your role as marketing communications manager for Oppy?

What I find most inspiring about the fresh produce industry is that it taps into the fundamentals of what it means to be human — by providing our bodies with the best fuel to be our best selves. It takes special people to be a part of this business, attracting the most down-to-earth, wonderful folks who have this unique connectivity to Mother Nature in today’s society. Knowing them has been one of the most rewarding aspects. 

I am so honored to be in the role of marketing and communications because I get to blend my love of creativity and collaboration to promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables. As our environment continues to shift, I get to use all of the tools I have to the best of my ability to contribute to a healthier world. It’s an industry I just happened to fall into, and I’m so grateful I did. 

Is there a professional accomplishment or passion project of which you are most proud? Why is this meaningful to you?

Much like the growth of a tree or orchard, it’s not just about one particular facet of the operation, it’s about the entirety of the growing process and all of the inputs it takes to get there. It’s all of the cycles and seasons that have brought me to my career as it stands today — that’s what I’m most proud of. 

But if I had to choose something that’s really been close to my heart it is the celebration of Oppy’s 20-year promise — expect the world from us.

It’s a privilege to have been a part of executing the various ways we celebrated and reinvigorated this promise to our customers, growers and fellow teammates. It represents not only delivering fresh produce from around the globe, but also exceeding the expectations in our endeavor to doing so. It’s incredible to be living in a time where we can bring such diverse flavors of the healthiest food options — something our ancestors couldn’t even fathom — and I love being a piece of the puzzle that serves this notion.