Looking back with pride on navigating pandemic

Looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, industry leaders found many reasons to take pride in how their companies came through the worst of the pandemic.

In a survey by The Packer, produce operators were asked to complete the statement, “I am proud of how our organization came through the pandemic because....

Here are selected responses:

“We recovered fairly well, and our sales team was very aggressive going after available business.”  Ernst van Eeghen, vice president of Church Brothers Farms, Spreckels, Calif.

 “We learned and shifted resources to be better and help bring customers solutions to help shore up their business.” Dan Sands, senior manager for produce at US Foods, Portland, Ore.

 “We all pulled on the rope and met the challenges straight on.” Vince Mastromauro, director of produce procurement for Chicago-based Sunset Foods.

“Working from home with no complaints.” Mark Hayes, president of Twin Garden Sales, Harvard, Ill.

“We grew together not only as a team but a family. We met one of the toughest years of the company’s history head-on and dealt with every challenge head-on as a unit.” Kyle Griffith, sales manager with Hollandia Produce LP, Carpinteria, Calif.