Former Del Monte, Sunsweet exec Bill Haase dies

William “Bill” Haase, former vice president of sales and marketing for Del Monte Fresh Produce and CEO of Sunsweet Growers, has died.

Haase died Oct. 25 after a long battle with health issues, according to his obituary. He was 63.

Haase started his career in the industry in 1986 at Del Monte, and was executive vice president and general manager of the North American Region when he left in 1994. He then was at Sunsweet Growers Inc. for three years as CEO.

He became a partner at dried fruit and snack company DF (Delicious Foods) Brands in 2000, and later Sunsweet Fresh, a subsidiary of DF Brands that supplies premium pears, citrus and stone fruit. Delicious Foods marketed Del Monte brand dried fruits and nuts. The company currently owns the Made in Nature brand organic snacks, according to the obituary, and he has been involved with the company since 2000.

Before the fresh produce industry, Haase was involved in a number of different jobs, from working at U.S. Steel, to starting as a janitor at the sheriff’s department in Monroe County, Fla., moving his way up to a detective position.

He graduated from Cleveland State University, graduating cumma sum laude in 1983. He was a sales representative for U.S. Lines in Ohio and was a Brazilian sales manager when he left to join Del Monte.