Latest News From People

A former marketer at Crunch Pak has joined Spiker Communications, Missoula, Mont., in a business development capacity.

Sliced apple processor Crunch Pak has added three people to its national sales staff.

After nearly 20 years at Amazon, the vice president of Amazon Prime is leaving the company.

Raley’s has promoted Kevin Konkel and Paul Gianetto to leadership positions.

Colorado fruit grower Harry Talbott is one of the newest members of the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame.

To promote its new finely diced mushroom product, Monterey Mushrooms is partnering with a social media influencer who’s a pediatric dietitian and food blogger.

John Patrick has joined Eco Farms sales staff to focus on retail, foodservice and wholesale accounts east of the Mississippi River.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the Summerland, British Columbia, grower and marketer of non-browning genetically engineered Arctic apples, has promoted Jenn Armen to vice president.

Albertsons Cos. has selected Jim Donald as its president and chief operating officer.

Wesley Van Camp, the vice president of legal and general counsel for Tanimura & Antle, has been recognized by the Salinas (Calif.) Valley Chamber of Commerce, with its Ag Leadership award.

The Oppenheimer Group’s transportation/logistics division, Oppy Transport, has promoted Chase Wrightson to senior business development manager.

The marketers of Opal apples have launched a creative contest for consumers called “SupercrispiOpalicious,” in which fans create and perform an original song on video about their love for Opal apples.

Red Hat Cooperative sales and marketing manager Mike Meinhardt is calling on retailers and shoppers to help mainstream “ugly” produce through a TEDx event at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association elected new officers recently.

This year, the ladies of Southern Roots are taking their annual luncheon on a two-hour tour aboard the luxury Yacht Starship.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed 16 new grower members to the National Potato Promotion Board.

After nine years as the president of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association — and 40 years in the industry — Chuck Gunnerson is retiring.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board is seeking nominations for four members in District 2, which covers 39 counties in Florida and all of North and South Carolina.

Last year marked the launch of the Dallas Fresh Food Association, and now the group has named its 2018 board of directors and is seeking members.

The California Citrus Mutual, Exeter, has hired Casey Creamer as executive vice president.

Sweet potato grower-shipper Southern Produce Distributors Inc., Faison, N.C., has hired Randy Swartz as chief financial officer and general manager.

Ippolito International is adding California asparagus from Coastal View Packing, Gonzales, Calif., as well as adding organic asparagus.

Moxxy Marketing has hired Megan Murphy in the new role of business coordinator.

The Vidalia Onion Committee has added R.T. Stanley to the Vidalia Onion Hall of Fame.

San Miguel Produce Inc. has hired Bob Cummings as vice president of sales and marketing.

Market Fresh Produce, Nixa, Mo., has promoted two employees in the sourcing department.

JOH has hired Gloria Bak as account manager in the company’s Grand Rapids, Mich., office.

Tanimura & Antle’s John McKeon has been appointed as a grower alternate to the California Organic Products Advisory Committee.

Church Brothers Farms has added to its sales department.

Market Fresh Produce has hired Sebastian Forest as a vendor managed inventory specialist.

Dimare Fresh Inc. vice president and chief operating officer Eric Janke recently retired after 15 years with the company.

For those who think eating healthy is too hard and expensive, actor/model Marley Ficalora has a message.

Eduardo De la Fuente is the new director of food safety for J&D Produce, Edinburg, Texas.

California Citrus Mutual, Exeter, has hired Lori Apodaca as director of regulatory affairs.

Roger Schroeder, who recently retired as vice president of produce at Stater Bros. Markets, was the man of the hour at a Fresh Produce & Floral Council dinner to celebrate his career.

Christina Monnin has joined Van Solkema Family Farms as director of business development.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s third-highest ranking official, Rachel Brand, has left to become Walmart’s executive vice president of global governance and corporate secretary.

Derek Sass has joined Talley Farms, Arroyo Grande, Calif., as sales manager.

Produce Marketing Association CEO Cathy Burns was the guest speaker at the Fresh Produce & Floral Council’s February membership luncheon.

Gerardo Ritz, general manager and principal of Ritz Produce, Nogales, Ariz., has died.

Purchasing Salinas, Calif.-based Mann Packing opens a number of doors for Fresh Del Monte Produce.

The Forbes Agency Council has chosen Moxxy Marketing President and CEO Karen Nardozza as a member.

Kathleen Nave, president and CEO of the California Table Grape Commission, is the California Fresh Fruit Association’s 2018 Mentor’s Award recipient.

Sunview Vinyards of California Inc. has hired Mitchell Wetzel as vice president of sales at Sunview Marketing International.

Casey Ison, director of sales for AMC North America, Glassboro, N.J., has left her position to open a photography and marketing company for the fresh produce industry.

AgroFresh Solutions Inc., whose SmartFresh technology is used to extend freshness of produce during storage and shipping, has hired Paul Nselel to be vice president and global general manager-post harvest.

Wallace Wiley Martin, a longtime grower of onion transplants at Dixondale Farms in Carrizo Springs, Texas has died.

Baton Rouge, La.-based Capitol City Produce Co. LLC has promoted Darin Arceneaux to president.

Tim York, CEO of Markon Cooperative, Salinas, Calif., is the new chairman of the Alliance for Food and Farming.

Jim Gorny is leaving the Produce Marketing Association to join the Food and Drug Administration, one of several moves from the agency in recent weeks to focus more on food safety.