Page 8 - index

produce watch
ANNOUNCEMENT
TRANSITION
SHUMAN PRODUCE
Amanda Lott was named
marketing coordinator of
Shuman Produce, a year-
round sweet onion grower
and shipper based in Re-
idsville, Ga. Lott has seven
years of experience in the
produce industry, specializ-
ing in sweet onion and sweet
potato commodities, as well
as a background in sales
and marketing. Lott is a graduate of Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga.
CALIFORNIA GIANT TO HOST
NAITONAL CHEF COMPETITION
California Giant Berry Farms, Watsonville, CA, is inviting foodservice companies to participate in a national chef competition in Monterey, CA, on July 8-10 at Tehama Golf Club. The promotion, in which chefs will create innovative recipes with Cali- fornia Giant berries, will run throughout the spring. Foodservice partners can submit candidates to be chosen for the finalist positions. Finalists will be invited to Monterey, where they will each recreate their winning recipes in hopes of winning the title of top chef. For more information, contact Tom Smith at tsmith@calgiantcom
TRANSITION
THE WONDERFUL COMPANY
Ryan Bowling, a former
Brand Innovators’ “40 Under 40” recipient, has joined the The Wonderful Company, Los Angeles, as senior vice president of public relations and corporate communica- tion. Bowling will oversee all media relations, as well as corporate events and crisis response. Bowling joins
The Wonderful Company from FleishmanHillard in San Francisco, where he was senior vice president and partner and helped support clients such as Veri- fone, General Motors, Hewlett-Packard Samsung, and VISA. Prior to that, he led the global press
office and digital media for Mars, Inc., and managed public relations for Sony Playstation.
TRANSITION
OPPY TRANSPORT
Charles Wrightson has been
named new senior business development manager for Newark, DE-based Oppy Transport, the transpor- tation and logistics arm
of The Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, BC. Wrightson will oversee the new business strategy for Oppy’s third-party
logistics company. Wrightson previously worked for Robinson Fresh as a regional category manager.
RALEY’S
TRANSITION
Raley’s, West Sacramento,
CA, promoted Kevin Konkel
(pictured here) to chief
operations officer and Paul
Gianetto to senior vice pres-
ident of sales and merchan-
dising. Konkel, the former
senior vice president of oper-
ations, will now lead opera-
tions in all of Raley’s banners
and pharmacy operations and
will be in charge of store design and construction and asset protection. Gianetto, the former vice president of center store, will manage strategic pricing, private label, sales and merchandising for both center store and perishable departments.
GIUMARRA COMPANIES
The Giumarra Companies, Los Angeles, named Jay Robinson as sales manager for its Southeast division. Robinson brings more than 20 years of produce sales and marketing experience to the role, including his most recent role as sales specialist and organic commodity manager for
L&M Companies, Raleigh, NC. His primary respon- sibilities with Giumarra Southeast will be to help expand the division’s product line, oversee existing customer accounts and develop new business.
TRANSITION
TRANSITION
CALIFORNIA BERRY FARMS
Joe Barsi, the former vice
president of business development for California Giant Berry Farms, Watson- ville, CA, was named chief operating officer. Barsi
will report directly to the partners of California Giant as they consider growth opportunities both domes- tically and internationally
in the berry category. Barsi led the expansion of California Giant’s blueberry program and developed an internal team and grower base in the United States, Mexico and South America. Prior to joining California Giant, he was the president of T&G Glob- al’s North American operations.
ANNOUNCEMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT
CONCORD FOODS EXPANDS ON
FRESH SUCCESS PRODUCT LINE
Expanding on its meal-solution product line, Concord Foods, Brockton, MA, has created three new freeze-dried vegetable snacks sold under the Fresh Success brand. Available for distribution
in May 2018, the flavor line includes Corn and Roasted Red Pepper with Sea Salt; Sliced Beets with Balsamic Vinegar; and Sugar Snap Peas with Sea Salt and Pepper. The snacks are made with 100 percent real vegetables and no artificial ingredients, added sugar or preservatives.
Selah, WA-based Rainier Fruit has teamed with Wanderlust, the world’s largest producer of yoga lifestyle events, and will be the presenting healthy lunch sponsor at 24 Wanderlust 108 events in the United States and Canada. In addition to on-site activation at the events, Rainier Fruit, a leading producer of organic and conventional apples, pears, cherries and blueberries, will work with retailers
to establish ad promotions that help attendees at each event find Rainier fruit in their local stores. Mark Zirkle, chief executive of Rainier Fruit said, “For generations we focused on growing great fruit. Today, our family and growing partners are focused on more than growing fruit; we are focused on growing healthy families and communities and making a commitment to support positive lifestyles that will influence generations to come.”
RAINIER FRUIT PARTNERS
WITH WANDERLUST
FOR NATIONAL YOGA SERIES
Produce & Floral Watch are regular features of Produce Business. Please send information on new products, personnel changes, industry, corporate and personal milestones and available literature, along with a high resolution image to: Managing Editor, Produce Business, P.O. Box 810425, Boca Raton, FL 33481-0425 or email us at info@producebusiness.com
8 / APRIL 2018 / PRODUCE BUSINESS