IFPA announces board of directors' slate for 2024

The International Fresh Produce Association has revealed it's slate for the 2024 IFPA board of directors.

The volunteer leaders will be confirmed by a ballot shared with the membership, according to a news release. This group is expected to begin its board service at the 2023 Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show, Oct. 19-21, in Anaheim, Calif.

The board is guided by an executive committee, which will be led in 2024 by current Chair-elect John Anderson, who is chair, CEO and managing partner for Oppy. Current board Chair Laura Himes, vice president of sourcing of fresh for Walmart, will assume the role of past board chair.

Both Anderson and Himes will take the stage in at the October show Anaheim to share their reflections on IFPA accomplishments in 2023 and what members can expect from the organization in 2024, the release said.

Joining the executive committee are 2024 Chair-elect Tammy DeBoer, president of Harris Teeter; Secretary-treasurer Clint Lewis, CEO of AgroFresh Solutions Inc.; and two at-large executive committee members from the current board roster — current Fresh-Cut Processor Council Chair Judy Clark, CEO of Fresh Texas; and retiring Secretary-treasurer Patrick Vizzone, managing director and head of Agri-Food and Impact Investment for Franklin Templeton Global Private Equity.  

IFPA Foundation for Fresh Produce Chair Alex DiNovo, president and chief operating officer for DNO Produce, also joins the executive committee, succeeding current foundation Chair Martha Hilton, vice president of produce and floral merchandising for Wegman’s. Hilton will serve as a director on the IFPA board. 

“I’ve served on many industry volunteer leadership groups over the years, and this is, by far, one of the most diverse and wide-ranging Boards I have ever had the pleasure of working with,” Anderson said in the release. “In order to grow IFPA members’ prosperity and move toward creating a vibrant future for all, it requires diversity of thought and representation. The incoming board will be a near 50-50 balance between male and female leadership and has a worldwide footprint in terms of companies that are U.S.-based, U.S.-based with global operations, and those who are based entirely outside the U.S.

“I cannot wait to tackle the big issues facing our member community with this group,” Anderson continued. “I greatly appreciate the contributions of the Leadership Development Committee, led by current past chair Bruce Taylor, for their diligence in collaborating with the Board to develop the ballot and slate."

The new board for 2024 includes: 

• Brazil Council Chair Alex Lee, commercial director, Rio Bonito Orgânicos, São Paulo, Brazil.
• Grower-Shipper Council Chair Mark Campion, president, Taylor Farms Retail, Salinas, Calif.
• Foodservice Council Chair Chip Walker, president and CEO, SSi LLC/PRO*ACT, Monterey, Calif. 
• Mexico Council Chair Adelina Metodieva, CEO, Zeliotech Mineral Fertilizers, Cuernevaca, Mexico.
• Supply Chain Council Chair Steve Alaerts, director, Foodcareplus NV, Antwerp, Belgium.
• Sustainability Council Chair Rachel Depree, head of sustainability, Zespri, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand.

At-large representatives:

• Tim Bulow, president and COO, Mission Produce, Oxnard, Calif.
• Hein Deprez, co-CEO, Greenyard, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
• Elliott Grant, CEO, Mineral (an Alphabet Company), Mountain View, Calif.
• Lam Lin, group strategy lead, Joy Wing Mau Group, Shenzen, China.
• Anna Lopez, vice president of produce, H-E-B Grocery, San Antonio.
• Ruth McLennan, chief merchant Cold Storage, The DFI Group, Singapore.
• Bas Pellenaars, commercial director LATAM, Dümmen Orange, Miami.
• Oleen Smethurst, vice president of produce, Loblaw, Ottawa, Ontario.
• Rodolfo Spielmann, president and CEO, NatureSweet, San Antonio.

Board directors completing their service in Anaheim are: 

• Melissa Ackerman, CEO, Planet Harvest.
• Amelie Aust, owner, board vice-chair, Fall Creek Farm & Nursery.
• Ernesto Cardona, CEO, Austral Trading.
• Nikki Cossio, founder and CEO, Measure to Improve LLC.
• Jose Antonio Gomez, CEO, Camposol.
• Jamey Higham, president and CEO, Idaho Potato Commission.
• Jeff Huckaby, CEO, Grimmway Enterprises. Inc. 
• Zak Lafitte, president, Wonderful Citrus.
• Gilson Lucato Jr., commercial director, Citricola Lucato.
• Dan Mathieson, CEO, Zespri International.
• Julie Olivarria, vice president of produce, Sysco Corp.
• James Rogers, CEO, Apeel Sciences.
• Debora Steier, vice president of floral, Albertsons Cos.
• Bruce Taylor, CEO, Taylor Farms.
• Debby Walker, vice president, purchasing and analytics, Darden.
• Dorn Wenninger, senior vice president of produce, UNFI.
• Drew Zabrocki, general manager, value chain insights and interoperability, Semios.