US (VA): New board of directors for United Fresh

United Fresh Immediate Past Chairman Ron Midyett, Apio, Inc., has announced the slate of new officers and directors nominated to serve on the United Fresh Produce Association Board of Directors, effective at its April 29, 2015 meeting in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Ascending to Chairman of the Board is Brian W. Kocher, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chiquita, Charlotte, NC. Brian currently serves as Chairman-Elect of the Board. Brian joined Chiquita in 2005, became president of North America in 2007, and has served in several positions since that time. Most recently he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, after his role as Chief Financial Officer responsible for all aspects of the company's financial operations worldwide.

Nominated as Chairman-Elect is Tony Freytag, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Crunch Pak Sliced Apples, Cashmere, WA.

Nominated to Secretary Treasurer is Lisa Strube, Director of Finance & Administration for Strube Celery & Vegetable Company. Lisa joined the Board in 2011 and most recently served as the Chairman of the Wholesaler Distributor Board.

Current United Chairman of the Board Ron Carkoski, President & CEO for Four Seasons Family of Companies, will move to the position of Immediate Past Chairman and remain on the Board and the Executive Committee.

The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as new members of the United Fresh Board for a two-year term beginning April 2015; Brian Antle, Jackie Caplan Wiggins, Suresh DeCosta, Bret Erickson, Bob Mast, Michael Muzyk, Jason Pounds, Howard Roeder, Dorn Wenninger, Ross Wileman, and Charles Wingard,

Current Board members nominated to new positions of service on Market Segment Boards and Councils include:

Chairman, Retail-Foodservice Board – Greg Corrigan, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores
Vice Chairman, Retail-Foodservice Board – Susan Reimer Sifford, Darden
Chairman, Fresh-Cut Board – Bob Swartwout, Direct Advantage
Vice Chairman, Fresh-Cut Processor Board – Jim Catchot, Renaissance Food Group
Chairman, Wholesaler Distributor Board – Bob Kirch, Caito Foods Service
Chairman, Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council – Cindy Jewell, California Giant Berry Farms

The following officers of Market Segment Boards and Councils will continue their service on the Board:

Chairman, Supply Chain Logistics Council - Kenny Lund, Allen Lund Company, Inc.
Chairman, Grower-Shipper Board – Tom Deardorff II, Deardorff Family Farms
Vice Chairman, Grower-Shipper Board - Bob Meek, Wada Farms Marketing Group

The following At-Large Board Members will continue their service on the Board: Bill Brim, PFG Focus; Bill Brooks, Westlake Produce Company; Mark Campion, Taylor Farms, Inc; Aaron Fox, Fox Packaging; Rudi Groppe, Heinzen Manufacturing International; Fred Heptinstall, IFCO Systems, N.A.; Steve Jarzombek, Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.; Carissa Mace, Fresh Produce & Floral Council; Paul Mastronardi, Mastronardi Produce, Ltd.; Lisa McNeece, Grimmway Enterprises Inc.; Bob Morrissey, National Watermelon Association, Inc.; Mike Orf, Hy-Vee, Inc.; Gordon Robertson, Sun World International, LLC; Rob Schrick, Bayer CropScience; Mike Spinazzola, Diversified Restaurant Systems; and Mario Steta, Driscoll's.

Board members concluding service at the April 2015 meeting include: Immediate Past Chairman Ron Midyett, Apio, Inc.; Scott Danner, Premier Produce, who served as Chairman of the Finance & Business Management Council; Bob Elliott, Sunkist Growers, Inc., who served as Chairman of the Food Safety & Technology Council; David Hille, Cabbage, Inc.; John Keeling, National Potato Council, who served as Chairman of the Government Relations Council; Joe Klare, Castellini Company, LLC; Lorri Koster, Mann Packing Company, who served as Secretary-Treasurer; Angela Nardone, N2N Global; Roger Pepperl, Stemilt Growers, LLC, who served as Chairman of the Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council; Dave Russell, Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc.; Randy Scott, Delhaize America, who served as Chairman of the Retail-Foodservice Board, and Mike Wootton, Sunkist Growers.

For more information:
Mary Coppola
United Fresh
Tel: +1 202-303-3425
Email: mcoppola@unitedfresh.org