Ravenna, OH-based Sirna & Sons Produce recently welcomed ANTHONY SIRNA to its sales team. As a fourth-generation family member, he is the grandson of current Sirna & Sons CEO Joe Sirna and the son of company President Tom Sirna. In his new position at Sirna & Sons, he will be working as a sales representative for the west side of Cleveland, Columbus and surrounding areas. “Family has always meant everything to Anthony,” said Tom Sirna. “I can’t imagine... Read more

Peter Dandrea, fresh out of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the fourth generation at Dandrea Produce Inc., recently came on board full time at the Vineland, NJ-based company and is off to a fast start. The 22-year-old son of Dandrea Produce Vice President Steven Dandrea already holds the title of logistics coordinator for West Coast farms, logistics coordinator, import programs, and logistics director for the company’s direct... Read more

For more than 30 years, California farmer and entrepreneur Larry Jacobs has been a pioneer in scalable and equitable organic food production, demonstrating that food can be grown profitably without chemicals. In April 2012, the Natural Resources Defense Council named Jacobs the Business Leader winner in its 2013 Growing Green Awards that honor leaders and innovators in sustainable food and agriculture. Larry JacobsAfter his own dangerous encounter with pesticides... Read more

LISA MARIE MOORE joined Bakersfield, CA-based Terra Bella Farms as a salesperson. In her new position, Moore is responsible for calling customers to book orders and following up during the process, pick-ups and deliveries. Moore has been working in the produce industry for four years. Before joining Terra Bella Farms, she worked for Jennings Transfer & Storage. In her spare time, Moore enjoys going to the beach in sunny Bakersfield where she resides. She... Read more

Rex Henderson, who built a great team and department during two decades of excellence as director of floral, was honored with a retirement party May 31, his last day as a member of the management team at United Supermarkets LLC. “It’s just been a wonderful honor being part of this company,” Henderson said during the ceremony. “It’s truly amazing how much our company has grown in the last 20 years. It’s just been phenomenal to see it and to be a part of it.” Rex... Read more

Denver-based FreshPack Produce hired MIKE COMAZZI as vice president of procurement. Comazzi has been working in the produce industry for a total of 31 years, first getting his start as a fuel jockey for an Orlando-based distributor in 1982. Prior to joining FreshPack, he worked for FreshPoint Inc. for 27 years. In his spare time, Comazzi enjoys golfing, hiking and running. He currently resides in Littleton, CO, with his wife. To announce personnel changes at... Read more

Martin Ley, vice president of Del Campo Supreme Inc. in Nogales, AZ, who has been with the firm for more than two decades, is "moving on from his operational roles for the company" effective May 31 and will "seek new ventures in the next chapter of his life," although he will "continue to assist Del Campo in multiple industry and government projects," according to a letter from Diego Ley, the company's president. Martin Ley"Martin has represented Del Campo's interests... Read more

Tony Guisto is something of an urban legend in Big Sky Country — at least to one doctor. “Being on a ranch is physically demanding,” he told The Produce News. “I’ll do it while I’m young and dumb. If you’re going to work cattle with horses, you’re going to get hurt.” And right he was. In the blink of an eye, the horse being ridden by the 25-year-old dropped to the ground during a wintry ride. Guisto’s foot was trapped in the stirrup, and his bones snapped. The... Read more

JORDAN COHN recently joined Modena, NY-based Stanley Orchards Sales as a full-time sales representative. Cohn first began working for Stanley Orchards in the summer of 2007, during his time off from college. He continued to work for the company between semesters throughout his college career, and even joined his father on trips to trade shows and South America. After completing his bachelor’s degree in history in 2011, Cohn spent a season working for Frusan in... Read more

The Produce Marketing Association announced that Tony Parassio has been named chief operating officer of the Newark, DE-based organization. The announcement was made at the association's recent board of directors meeting in Denver. "I'm pleased to share that Tony Parassio has been promoted to chief operating officer," Bryan Silbermann, president and chief executive officer, said in addressing the board. "During his time with Tony ParassioPMA, he's demonstrated... Read more

Avondale, PA-based Country Fresh Mushroom Co. recently announced the appointment of KIRK WILSON as regional sales manager. Wilson brings a great deal of expertise and experience to Country Fresh. Prior to joining the company, he worked for six years at Highline Mushroom LTD in Ontario. Wilson is well known in the industry and his extensive knowledge of mushrooms will help to better service the southeastern market area, the company press release stated. To announce... Read more

Bakersfield, CA-based Sun World International LLC announced the promotions of several employees and other staff adjustments. MONICA ESCOTO will now serve as director of quality assurance; CLAUDIO OLAVE as director of special projects and innovation; JOE SANCHEZ as director of southern facility operations; NATALIE ERLENDSON as program marketing manager; CECILIA RIVERA as customer service manager; RENA SOLIZ as human resources manager; MARTIN (SONNY) VELAZQUEZ as... Read more

Porterville, CA-based Homegrown Organic Farms announced the hire of BRIAN GUESS as regional grower and operations manager in Southern California. Guess is a recent graduate of California State University-Fresno with a degree in agricultural business. Prior to joining Homegrown Organic Farms, he worked for Baloian Farms as a quality control manager, and most recently as vendor development manager for SoFresh Produce. “I’m thrilled to join the team at Homegrown,”... Read more

Citing the need for continuity and expertise in environmental issues, the California Strawberry Commission board of directors  announced its unanimous decision to name Rick Olivares Tomlinson as its next president, effective immediately. Tomlinson fills the position after previous president Mark Murai transitioned out of the role to pursue a new opportunity in the private sector. Tomlinson has served as the commission’s vice president of public policy for... Read more

Tom Page, whose career in the retail food industry spans over 40 years, will be retiring from Supervalu Inc. this coming June. Page, who is based in Lakeland, FL, is East Coast-import procurement manager for Supervalu, which is headquartered in the Minneapolis suburb of Eden Prairie, MN, and which has around 3,000 stores under a variety of banners throughout the United States, he noted. Page, 68, was born Aug. 28, 1944, in Evansville, IN. Tom PageHe married Shirley,... Read more

The Grower-Shipper Association of Central California held its Annual Meeting May 23 at Corral de Tierra Country Club in Salinas. Mark Borman, the Association’s new chairman of the board, was inaugurated at this event in front of more than 75 members and dignitaries. As the new chairman of the board to Grower-Shipper, Borman will continue to advocate for strong businesses that support the families and people in the association's community and beyond. Borman spoke... Read more

Charles (Gil) Henry, who has long been associated with innovations allowing for the sale of ripe avocados, died on May 18 after losing a battle with lymphoma. Mr. Henry is largely responsible for facilitating the huge growth in avocado demand at retail by marketing pre-ripened fruit and urging retailers to carry it. "It was his idea to start the ripening process and sell fruit when it was starting to ripen rather than when it was hard as a rock," said Phil Henry,... Read more

Earthbound Farm, an organic food company based out of San Juan Bautista, CA, recently announced the promotions and hires of several staff members. CRAIG HOPE was promoted to chief customer and marketing officer and is now responsible for leading the marketing organization in addition to the sales organization. Mr. Hope joined Earthbound Farm in 2010 as chief customer officer. He has 25 years of experience in consumer packaged goods sales organizations and previously... Read more

Fort Worth, TX-based Fresherized Foods, the makers of “Wholly Guacamole,” announced the additions of JIM BLAIR and KIRK TURNER to its sales team. As retail sales managers, Mr. Blair and Mr. Turner will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with retail outlets in order to strengthen the market positions of the company’s “Wholly Guacamole” and “Wholly Salsa” brands. “We are excited to welcome Jim and Kirk to the ‘Wholly Guacamole’ sales team,”... Read more

Idaho Falls, ID-based Kingston Cos., the parent company of Kingston and Associates Marketing, promoted BILL TANNER to senior vice president of finance. Mr. Tanner first joined Kingston in 2000 as assistant controller and has nearly 20 years of accounting, auditing, tax and business advisory experience. “At Kingston, developing our leaders for future opportunities is important to our long-term success,” said David O. Kingston, chief executive officer of Kingston... Read more