BENTONVILLE, AR - Heads up, industry friends! A new leader has been appointed in the world of fresh. Tapping into the extensive produce expertise of Laura Himes, Walmart has named the former Senior Director for Produce Merchandising as its new Vice President of Sourcing – Fresh for the International division.

“It is a huge honor to be appointed Vice President Sourcing – Fresh and to extend my work in implementing Walmart’s sourcing strategies around resilience, trust, and value,” said Himes. “Walmart is on a journey to become a regenerative company, and where and how we source matters to our business, our customers, and our communities. I’m thrilled to lead this work.”

Himes began working for Walmart in 2013, stepping in to lead produce merchandising and sustainability efforts around packaging, pollinators, vertical farming, blockchain implementation, and ethical treatment of farmworkers. With expertise from farm to fork, she has over 30 years of experience in the produce industry.

Before joining Walmart, Himes worked as Farm Operations Manager/R&D for Dole/SunnyRidge Farms. She also previously held the position of Managing Director of Portugal Operations for Driscoll’s, in addition to holding various roles with Chiquita, where she began her career.

Himes is also Chair of the Board and member of the Executive Committee for the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and serves as the organization’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair. According to a press release, she has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Pomona College, Claremont, California, and a master’s degree in International Business from Thunderbird.

Congratulations to Laura Himes on this new role!

Walmart