FirstFruits Farms names national sales director

FirstFruits Farms says it has promoted Lon Hudson to national sales director, a newly created position at the company, in which he will lead national sales efforts, driving strategic growth and strengthening relationships with retail partners across the country.

Hudson has been an integral part of the FirstFruits team for 13 years, most recently playing a key role in becoming a multiregional tree fruit supplier through the acquisition of Michigan’s Applewood Fresh Growers, according to a news release. In his previous role as sales director, Hudson demonstrated exceptional leadership, deep industry knowledge and a strong team mentality, the company said.

“Lon has been a driving force in our sales team from the beginning, and his promotion to national sales director is well-earned,” said Chuck Zeutenhorst, president of sales and marketing for FirstFruits Farms. “With his extensive understanding of the industry and strong market intuition, we are confident that Lon will help us build our momentum and continue to grow in key markets.”

Hudson will pave the way in overseeing FirstFruits’ national sales strategy, focusing on expanding distribution channels, enhancing customer partnerships and leading both the Washington and Michigan sales teams toward continued success, the release said.

“I am fortunate to have built a strong foundation at FirstFruits over the past 13 years, and I look forward to leading our national sales efforts as we continue to grow,” Hudson said. “Getting fruit into the hands of consumers takes a tremendous team effort, and I’m proud to be part of the dedicated team at FirstFruits. We remain focused on delivering exceptional products and strong partnerships to our customers, even as we operate from our distinct locations in Washington and Michigan.”