WASHINGTON, DC – The United Fresh Produce Association announced a slate of new officers and directors this week. The association’s Immediate Past Chairman Brian W. Kocher, President and CEO, Castellini Company, made the announcement. New officers will assume their roles on the United Fresh Produce Association Board of Directors effective at its April 26, 2017 meeting in Hilton Head, SC.

“Our organization thrives on the strength and diversity of the leadership on the United Fresh Board of Directors,” said President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “This slate of new Board members, along with those returning to the Board, will provide a strong representation and leadership of our industry

Susan Reimer-Sifford, Director, Produce and Bakery Purchasing and Distribution for Darden, will ascend to the role of Chairman of the Board. Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing for California Giant Berry Farms will assume the role of Chairman-Elect. Danny Dumas, Vice President N.A. Sales and Product Management for Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A., Inc has been nominated as Secretary-Treasurer. Current United Fresh Chairman of the Board Tony Freytag, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Crunch Pak will more to the position of Immediate Past Chairman and remain on the company’s board and executive committee.

Additionally, the following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as new members of the United Fresh Board for a two-year long term, effective as of its April meeting:

• Jeff Cady, Director of Produce and Floral, Tops Friendly Markets
• Jerry Callahan, Group VP, Produce and Floral, Albertsons
• Michael Castagnetto, VP, Global Sourcing, Robinson Fresh
• Chris Ciruli, COO, Ciruli Brothers
• Michael Cochran, Merchandise Manager, Produce, Walmart
• Mark Girardin, President, North Bay Produce
• Christian Harris, VP Fresh Produce, US Foods
• Jim Hay, North America Regional Business Director, DuPont Crop Protection
• Brian Jenny, VP/GM, Value Added Fresh, Naturipe Farms
• Drew McDonald, VP Quality, Food Safety, and Regulatory, Church Brothers Farms
• Phil Muir, President and CEO, Muir Copper Canyon Farms
• Mark Munger, VP, Sales and Marketing, 4Earth Farms
• Raina Nelson, VP of Sales, Renaissance Food Group
• Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk, CEO, Seald Sweet International

Additionally, several board members will continue to serve on United Fresh’s board. And several members will also conclude their service this term, including: Immediate Past Chairman Brian Kocher, Castellini Company; Bill Brim, Lewis Taylor Farms; Greg Corrigan, Raley's Family of Fine Stores; Suresh DeCosta, Lipman; Fred Heptinstall, Polymer Logistics; Bob Kirch, Caito Foods; Jim Lemke, Robinson Fresh; Gordon Robertson, Sun World International; Michael Spinazzola, Diversified Restaurant Systems; Lisa Strube, Strube Celery & Vegetable Company; Bob Swartwout, Direct Advantage, and Ross Wileman, Mission Produce.

“I’d like to extend a personal thanks to all of the Board members who are concluding their service at this upcoming meeting, including our Immediate Past Chairman Brian Kocher who provided exceptional leadership to our organization during his many years of service,” said Stenzel. “With an industry as diverse and complex as ours, we are grateful to the dedicated members of our Board who have helped navigate the challenges in our industry and further advance our organization. We appreciate the time and service they have dedicated to United and the industry."

Stenzel thanked outgoing board members and highlighted the strengths of the "impressive" new slate of candidates. 

“I’d also like to personally thank Brian and Board Development Committee members Brian Kocher, Tony Freytag, Susan Reimer-Sifford, Lisa Strube, John Jackson, Jackie Caplan Wiggins, Shannon Arias, and Brent Scattini for their work this year in nominating an impressive slate of officers and Board members,” said Stenzel. “Their job was to help develop a strong and representative leadership on the Board for the coming years to drive our association forward, and I commend them for developing this strong slate of industry leaders.”

For more, see United Fresh’s announcement in its entirety, here.

United Fresh Produce Association