Ronald Bown, the longtime president of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association A.G. and the face of the Chilean fresh fruit industry for three decades, is retiring.
Serving with the association for more than 35 years, Bown has helped expand the growth of Chilean fresh fruit exports to the U.S. and other countries.
Chilean fruit exports to the U.S. have climbed from 481,000 metric tons in 1990, when Bown began his role as president, to 920,000 metric tons in 2021, according to USDA statistics.
Bown was honored for his contributions to the North American produce industry when he was named a member of The Packer 25 class of 2006. Among his other honors, Bown was the World Trade Association of Philadelphia’s 2017 Honoree of the Year Award for his contribution to the import trade in the Philadelphia region.
The board of directors of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association A.G., or ASOEX, made the announcement that Bown is transitioning to retirement.
“The board of directors of ASOEX wishes to express its deepest gratitude to Ronald for the countless achievements that have been obtained under his administration in benefit of the fruit export activity,” the group said in a statement.
Search for new leader
As a search for a new leader begins, the association said Bown’s interim replacement will be lawyer Iván Marambio Castaño, current member of the board of directors.
Bown will continue to be involved with the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association as an advisor, the group said.
