CHICAGO, IL - The sale of fresh produce is the backbone of our industry, and this would not be possible without the technology that has evolved in recent decades. Furthermore, this technology would not be possible without the leaders who represent it. Hazel Technologies, a technology company delivering new packaging solutions for fresh produce, recently strengthened its leadership team by appointing Kelly Dietz as its new Vice President of Sales, who brings with her over 20 years of experience.

“Each step in my career has helped prepare me for this role; I am incredibly proud and excited to help lead Hazel’s continuing adoption across the fresh produce industry,” said Dietz.

As reported in a news release, Dietz holds a masters degree in food science from Penn State University and began her produce sales career at Grimmway Farms, ascending to Director of Sales and significantly expanding Grimmway’s penetration with East Coast retailers during a 15-year tenure.

More recently, Dietz has held executive roles as Director of Business Development at California-based Berry Fresh, and Vice President of Business Development at Florida-based Seald Sweet, a division of Greenyard.

"We are ecstatic to have a sales leader with Kelly’s impressive track-record joining the Hazel team,” said Aidan Mouat, CEO. “Kelly’s sales and business development experience in the produce industry will allow Hazel Tech to continue to share our new innovations with the industry, mentor future leaders at our company, and establish Hazel Tech as the leading post-harvest technology brand in the fresh produce category.”

Hazel’s patent-pending technologies, tested by many of the country's top academic research programs—including UC Davis, Cornell University, and Oregon State University—are expected to be used with over 3.2 billion pounds of fresh produce in 2020, preventing over 270 million pounds of fresh produce from going to waste.

Dietz’s role at Hazel Tech will focus primarily on sales, marketing, and business development growth and strategy. She will report to CMO Pat Flynn and will lead both the sales and business development departments.

Founded in 2015, Hazel Tech’s technologies revolve around the release of active, shelf-life enhancing vapor from packaging materials. Hazel products are placed in boxes of bulk produce by packers soon after the time of harvest, extending the shelf-life of produce up to three times by slowing aging in produce and preventing decay.

Here’s to another trailblazer stepping up to lead the charge of fresh produce sales! Keep reading ANUK to get the latest scoop on industry news.

Hazel Technologies