Wenatchee, Wash.-based grower-shipper-packer CMI Orchards has tapped Brett Reasor to lead New Columbia Fruit Packers LLC as its next CEO.
The current CEO of Columbia Fruit, Mike Wade, will transition to the role of chairman once Reasor joins on March 1, 2023, according to a news release.
“The tree fruit industry is complex and unique, and requires extremely capable leadership,” Wade said in the release. “Brett’s drive for innovation and standard for excellence, plus his broad wealth of experience and the respect he holds within the industry, will take Columbia Fruit’s business into this next exciting era.”
The leadership Reasor will bring to Columbia Fruit will be key in advancing several key development initiatives, expansion of regenerative farming efforts, sustainability efforts and overall business growth, Wade added.
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“Brett brings invaluable experience from his time at Oneonta Trading Corporation as CEO, giving him a solid platform to transition into and add value to CMI’s business,” Bob Mast, president of CMI Orchards, said in the release. “CMI strives to be visionaries when it comes to the tree fruit industry and adding Brett’s knowledge and expertise to our owners’ business improves our ability to be the best we can be.”
Reasor, a Wenatchee native, graduated from Washington State University and has experience as an industrial engineer for ConAgra Foods, a general manager for Custom Apple Packers and, most recently, as CEO for Oneonta Trading Corporation.
“This is a great opportunity to continue to gain knowledge in the industry, work with a great marketing base in CMI, and dive more into the long-term sustainable strategy that Columbia Fruit is developing,” Reasor said in the release. “That’s something that I think we, as an industry, need to continue to push forward and support.”
