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Alex Ott is leaving the California Apple Commission and other commodity boards to become the full-time executive director of the American Pecan Council.
After 45 years in the produce industry and selling a world of onions, Chris Woo is ready to retire.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking four importers to fill seats on the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
Apple grower-shippers in New York report a promising bloom set up by near perfect weather throughout the state in May.
Steve Lutz, the Produce Marketing Association’s regional vice president-U.S. and Canada West, has ended his affiliation at CMI Orchards.
Sun Pacific, marketer of Cuties-brand clementines, plans to grow export sales, naming two employees who will lead that charge.
Delightful Quality Produce Company has hired a new vice president of sales and business development.
Rio Rico, Ariz.-based The Sykes Company, announced today that it has selected Lesley Sykes — daughter of company founder and president Bill Sykes — as executive vice president.
Monica Reinagel, aka The Nutrition Diva, has launched a podcast that focuses on fresh produce growers and other agriculture industries.
Salinas, Calif.-based D’Arrigo Brothers of California has hired Cody Ramsey as foodservice manager and Shannon Aliotti as a sales representative.
Litehouse president and CEO Jim Frank plans to retire, and executive vice president Kelly Prior has been named interim president of the salad dressing company.
Q Laboratories Inc. has named Jason Brown manager of its Analytical Chemistry Department.
Jim Allen, vice president of marketing for New York Apple Sales and former president of the state’s apple association, has been honored by the New York State Agricultural Society.
J&J Family of Farms, Westlake, Fla., has made personnel changes.
Allen Lund Co., La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., has promoted Todd Piccola in the Rochester, N.Y., office and Greg Babiarz in the Charlotte, N.C., office.
Kelly Green, president and chairwoman of Birko Corp., is a new member of the AgIndustry Leadership Council at Colorado State University.
Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce’s GoodFarms brand has been recognized for social responsibility efforts by adopting Equitable Food Initiative practices.
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, Sacramento, has hired Greg Komar as technical director.
Karen Ross has been re-appointed as secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Fallbrook, Calif.-based Del Rey Avocado’s spring 2018 website redesign by TMD Creative has received recognition from national awards programs.
How is the produce industry doing in attracting talented young people to the business?
Tasteful Selections, Arvin, Calif., has hired Celeste Porter as chief financial officer.
Todd Haffield has joined IMG Citrus, Vero Beach, Fla., as director of packinghouse operations, a role he had at the company from 2010-17.
Christopher Valadez, the new president of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, Salinas, has been appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture’s board of directors.
Cheryl Williams has joined Bottomley Evergreens and Farms, Ennice, N.C., as director of produce sales and procurement.
The California Kiwifruit Administrative Committee is seeking nominations for growers to serve on its board.
Interfresh Inc., Orange, Calif., has hired Michael “Jake” Jacobs as director of business development, in a new Scottsdale, Ariz., office for the company.
JOH, Billerica, Mass., has hired Tara Larson in the Great Lakes region as an account manager.
Al Bernardi, who helped established a Nogales, Ariz., brokerage as the area became a key link to imported produce, has died.
Paul “Sonny” H. Scheid Jr., former president of Scheid Produce Inc., a company founded by his father, died June 3. He was 89.
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