New International Fresh Produce Association Hits the Ground Running
During a live streamed news conference, Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh Produce Association leaders provided a series of updates for the new industry association named International Fresh Produce Association. Co-CEOs of the new association Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel were joined by executive committee members to share details, including the board of directors. Selecting and recruiting the board of directors was one of the first responsibilities of the newly announced executive committee.
The board of directors will work in partnership with an experienced staff at the new association to provide guidance and expertise for industry members across the produce and floral supply chains.
When the new association was announced, PMA and United Fresh also shared the strategic commitments that will be the core priorities of the new association launching in January 2022. These priorities include a commitment to all sectors of the fresh produce and floral supply chains; a commitment to growing demand and profitability; and a commitment to global engagement. These priorities also were key to driving the selection and organization of the new board.
As previously announced, the Executive Committee for the International Fresh Produce Association includes:
- Chair: Bruce Taylor, CEO, Taylor Farms
- Chair-Elect Laura Himes, DMM Produce, Walmart
- Secretary Treasurer Patrick Vizzone, head of food, beverage and agribusiness, ANZ Banking
- Past Chair(s): Danny Dumas, President of Courchesne Larose USA Inc. and Dwight Ferguson, President and CEO, California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
- Foundation Chair: Martha Hilton, VP produce and floral merchandising, Wegman’s.
The new association Board of Directors are:
Directors Representing Market Segments
- Grower-Shipper: Jeff Huckaby, CEO, Grimmway Enterprises Inc.
- Foodservice: Melissa Ackerman, President and Operations Director, Produce Alliance
- Fresh-Cut Processor: Raina Nelson, President U.S., Westfalia Fruit Marketing USA LLC
- Wholesaler-Distributor: Tom Brugato, President, Pacific Coast Fruit Co.
- Retail: Pending
Directors Representing Industry Expertise:
- Finance & Business Management: Michael Castagnetto, President, Robinson Fresh
- Food Safety: Cheryl Enlow, VP of QA and food safety, Renaissance Food Group
- Supply Chain Logistics: Drew Zabrocki, General Manager, value chain insights and interoperability, Semios
- Marketing & Merchandising: Abby Prior, Senior VP of sales and marketing, Bright Farms
- Sustainability: Nikki Cossio, founder and CEO, Measure to Improve LLC.
- Technology: James Rogers, CEO, Apeel Sciences
U.S. Government Relations Director: Brian Kocher, President and CEO, Castellini Cos.
Directors Representing Global Markets:
- Australia-New Zealand: Katie De Villers, head of sales, One Harvest
- Brazil: Gilson Lucato, Commercial Director, Citricola Lucato
- Chile: Cristian Ureta, CEO, Exser
- Mexico: Ernesto Cardona, President and Operations Director, Australtrading
- South Africa: Trevor Dukes, CEO, The Fruit Farm Group
- China: Liu Mau Wah, Chairman of the group, Joy Wing Mau Group
Directors Representing Floral:
- Carlos Oramas, CEO, Gems Group, Inc.
- Debora Steier, VP of floral, Albertsons Cos.
In addition to these leaders, the new association’s Board also includes at-large directors:
- Amelie Aust, owner, Board Vice Chair, Fall Creek Farm & Nursery
- Erik Brown, Executive Leader – procurement, produce, Whole Food
- Adriëlle Dankier, Chief Commercial Officer, Nature’s Pride
- Inci Dannenberg, head of vegetable seeds global strategic marketing, Bayer
- Karen Fernald, Senior VP category, merchandising pricing, Food Lion
- Jose Antonio Gomez, CEO, Camposol
- Candice Herndon, President, North America, IFCO Systems N.A.
- Jamey Higham, President and CEO, Idaho Potato Commission
- Jacob Krempel, VP, Procurement, HelloFresh
- Zak Lafitte, President, Wonderful Citrus
- Dan Mathieson, CEO, Zespri International, LTD.
- Amy McClellan, VP, fresh merchandising, SpartanNash
- Nelson Montoya, President, Fresh Fruit, Dole Food Co.
- Julie Olivarria, VP, produce, Sysco Corp.
- Mark Powers, President, Northwest Horticultural Council
- Michael Simonetta, CEO, Perfection Fresh
- Brie Reiter Smith, VP of product leadership, Driscoll’s
- Debbie Raton Walker, VP, purchasing and analytics, Darden
- Dorn Wenniger, Senior VP of produce, UNFI
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