Philadelphia-based AgroFresh Solutions Inc. has named Kent Shoemaker to its board of directors, appointing him chairman of the board.
“As we continue to expand our products and services for additional crops, we remain committed to helping our customers meet their post-harvest challenges at every step in the fresh produce supply chain,” Clint Lewis, CEO of AgroFresh, said in a news release. “We are excited to welcome a leader like Kent who has walked in our customers’ shoes and has been a successful business leader with direct experiences in produce production and managing risk along the supply chain as produce travels from harvest to home.”
Until his retirement in 2023, Shoemaker served as CEO of Lipman Family Farms for nearly 14 years, one of the largest open-field tomato growers in North America, according to the release. The Immokalee, Fla.-based company provides year-round fresh produce through an integrated network of research and development, farming, processing and packing. Prior to Lipman, Shoemaker spent 26 years at FreshPoint Inc., one of North America’s largest fresh produce distribution networks, serving as chief operating officer the final 10 years, according to the release.
Shoemaker was part of the leadership team whose expansion efforts resulted in the sale of FreshPoint to Sysco Corporation, the release said.
“My journey to this role has been marked by a deep respect for agriculture and a passion for fostering sustainable practices,” Shoemaker said in the release. “It is an honor to be associated with such a highly regarded leader in the area of produce sustainability.”
“Kent’s experience will be invaluable to us as AgroFresh continues its transformation to expand its pathways for growth, having recently completed the acquisitions of both Tessara and Pace International,” Lewis said in the release.
As the newest independent director, Shoemaker replaces Brian Kocher as board chairman, who recently transitioned off the board to take on the role of CEO for SunOpta, the release said. Shoemaker will now join other independent board members: Tina Lawton, former APAC president of Syngenta; Sandor Nagy, COO and head of supply chain at Driscoll’s; and David McInerney, founder and former CEO of Fresh Direct.
