The Foundation for Fresh Produce revealed its new 2025 board members at the International Fresh Produce Association’s 2024 Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta.
The foundation was founded by the IFPA, and its mission is to grow a healthier world by changing the trajectory of human health.
The 2025 board will be chaired by Dwight Ferguson, president and CEO of California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, according to a news release. Alex DiNovo, president and chief operating officer for DNO Produce, will continue to serve on the board and executive committee as past chair.
Additional members of the executive committee are Jin Ju Wilder, vice president of marketing and business development, Vesta Foods, as the chair-elect and April Porter of Noble Citrus and Crystal Beach Capital as secretary and treasurer.
“I am honored and excited to become chair of The Foundation for Fresh Produce and do my part, along with the very talented board and staff, to advance its mission to grow a healthier world by changing the trajectory of human health,” Ferguson said in the release. “All of us involved with produce and health know that growing consumption of fruits and vegetables is the single most simple thing every person can do for the health of themselves and the planet. Thanks to the work of my predecessor, Alex DiNovo, along with prior board members, The foundation is now well-positioned to expand and increase consumption globally.”
The foundation board will lead the organization’s remit to position fruits and vegetables as the solution for many of the world’s greatest health and economic challenges, especially those surrounding nutrition and hunger, according to the release.
The organization says it plans to expand its reach and impact to boost the appeal of fruits and vegetables as an integral part of people’s diets, improve access, nurture passionate fruit and vegetable professionals, and scale partner programs that strengthen the collective global impact.
“Serving as chair of the foundation has been an incredibly rewarding journey. Over the past year, it’s been inspiring to see the foundation’s mission to transform human health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables take root,” DiNovo said. “During my tenure, building on the foundation’s growth and witnessing the tangible impact of our initiatives has been remarkable. As Dwight steps into this role, his commitment to increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables and growing a healthier world will surely drive the foundation to new milestones, and I look forward to seeing the impactful strides he and the Board will accomplish together.”
The foundation’s 2025 at-large members include:
- CarrieAnn Arias, Pear Bureau Northwest.
- Stacy Bates, H-E-B.
- Inci Dannenberg, Bayer.
- Nikki Ford, Hass Avocado Board.
- Bil Goldfield, Dole Food Co.
- Eileen Hyde, Walmart.
- Jason Osborn, The Wonderful Company.
- Cedric Pauwels, Greenyard.
- Amy Yaroch, Center for Nutrition and Impact.
The foundation also thanked two retiring board members for their service:
- Martha Hilton, Wegmans.
- John Oxford, L&M.
