Fresh Produce & Floral Council Hosts June Membership Luncheon; Katie Gagnon and Briana Giampaoli Comment

Thursday, Jun. 15th, 2023

by Jenna Plasterer

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PLEASANTON, CA - The Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton, California, was the place to be for industry members on June 9, as that’s where the Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) held its June Membership Luncheon. The event was hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Katie Gagnon, Associate Buyer, Produce, Grocery Outlet, and featured Keena Turner of the San Francisco 49ers as a guest speaker.

Katie Gagnon, Associate Buyer, Produce, Grocery Outlet “Going to an event like this luncheon, my biggest takeaway is the people you get to meet and connect with. Being a part of the former FPFC Apprentice class has opened so many doors for me already with the people I’ve met through it. It truly bridges a connection between the young new people of the industry and the veterans that have guidance and knowledge to share,” said Gagnon. “I’m also lucky to have made amazing friendships through it. This was the best introduction into the world of produce I could have asked for. Thank you to the FPFC!”

Prior to the start of the luncheon, 2023 FPFC Apprentices had an educational session with an AgTech panel hosted by Walt Duflock of Western Growers Association. According to a release, panelists included Paul Elliott of FarmWise, Curtis Gardner of Verdant Technologies, Clint Masterson of Bear Flag Robotics, and Briana Giampaoli of Live Oak Farms.

Following the luncheon, guests headed to the Neighborhood Sports Bar & Grill for Social Hour and a corn hole tournament.

Briana Giampaoli, Marketing and Product Innovation, Live Oak Farms “The Northern FPFC luncheon and corn hole tournament turned out to be a great event. FPFC does a phenomenal job at getting industry folk in a room to have great discussions around produce, not to mention their success with their Apprentice program, which I have gone through myself,” commented Giampaoli. “The amount of work they put into the organization to give their members a rewarding experience shows at each event.”