Meet the new faces of New England Produce Council

Expect to see some new faces on New England Produce Council’s two boards: the executive board and board of directors.

They may be familiar to northeastern produce professionals and veteran participants in NEPC’s Produce, Floral & Foodservice Expo 2023, but they’re new to these leadership positions — except for one returning board member.

On the executive board, David Dearborn has been named first vice president, and Craig Minichiello has been named second vice president, according to a news release.

Dearborn, vice president of procurement at Suffield, Conn.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., brings extensive experience in the produce industry and with the NEPC board of directors. His leadership will guide NEPC’s growth.

Minichiello, produce buyer at Tewksbury, Mass.-based Market Basket, has more than 35 years of experience in the produce industry. Rising through the ranks quickly as a produce manager, he was promoted in 2004 to the corporate office as a district produce supervisor and eventually to produce buyer. Minichiello told NEPC that the relationships he’s formed over the years both inside and outside the company are some of his greatest accomplishments.

“Both men possess a passion for the produce industry, and they are both great additions to the leadership of the New England Produce Council,” NEPC Executive Director Laura Sullivan said in the release.

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Five other produce leaders have been appointed to the NEPC board of directors: Keith Frosceno, Rebecca Fanion, Chris Finn, Lauren Mordasky and Corrine Barry.

“These additions to our board of directors emphasize our commitment to promoting the fresh fruit and vegetable industry and strengthen our position as an industry leader,” Sullivan said.

According to the release:

• Returning to the board is Frosceno of Springfield, Mass.-based Big Y Foods Inc. He was an original board member. With more than 35 years of expertise, Frosceno brings valuable insights and a fresh perspective to the council after serving in several senior management positions before joining Big Y Foods in 2020.
• Fanion of Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop Supermarkets was elected to the NEPC board of directors to complete the term of Brian Fleming, who recently resigned. Fanion is the category manager of vegetables at Stop & Shop, where she has consistently advocated for taking a data-based approach to managing in-store merchandising, assortment and price-promotions for the produce department, helping grow the total business 2% since 2018. As a young produce professional, she brings some energy and new insight to the NEPC board.
• Finn, vice president of operations at Boston-based Katsiroubas, was appointed to represent the foodservice sector of the industry on the NEPC board. With almost 20 years of experience in the food distribution industry and at a family-operated business, he has extensive knowledge of produce commodity management, as well as produce contracting and sourcing. Finn’s strengths include operational leadership and the constructing and execution of operational key performance indicators. He leads a team of 130 employees.
• Mordasky is an Orwell, Vt.-based business development manager at RPE, which partners with Arvin, Calif.-based Tasteful Selections. She is an experienced farmer and businesswoman with several years of experience operating and marketing farms and food in the produce industry. Mordasky has a proven track record of success — including at startup organizations. She has worked on the NEPC golf committee and will continue her commitment to NEPC as a board member.
• Barry, a native of Quincy, Mass., works at Dole Fresh Vegetables and has been working in the fresh produce industry for 12 years, after earning a business administration and marketing degree from Nichols College. What started as a college summer internship developed into more than a decade-long career, with experience in retail, marketing and account sales in the Northeast. In Barry’s current role at Dole, she has been managing its Northeast value-added division for two years and was recently promoted to national accounts manager in the East. Coming from a produce family, her passion for the business is deeply rooted.

“The New England Produce Council and its board members play a pivotal role in what really unifies us all as an industry, and I am honored to be a part of that outreach,” Barry said in the release.

The five directors’ leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of the produce industry will help guide NEPC through its next phase of growth, according to the release.

“We are delighted to welcome Keith Frosceno, Rebecca Fanion, Chris Finn, Lauren Mordasky and Corrine Barry to our board of directors,” NEPC President Tom Murray, vice president of produce at Mansfield, Mass.-based Roche Bros., said in the release. “Their leadership will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the New England Produce Council.”