At the Idaho Potato Commission’s October meeting, Mike Telford, a grower from Paul, was sworn in to serve a three-year term, and Paul Saito and Mark Darrington will now serve as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

“The IPC is continually committed to strengthening the Idaho potato brand through a multitude of marketing programs. Mike is a great addition and boasts a wealth of knowledge and respect amongst growers and the industry as a whole,” said Jamey Higham, president and CEO of IPC. “Paul and Mark have provided tremendous leadership over the past three years, and I’m confident

The International Fresh Produce Association announced the incoming class for its leadership program during the graduation of the outgoing fellows of class 27.

The program, now in its 28th year, is a year-long leadership journey where participants develop essential leadership and business skills through a series of customized trips. These trips are packed with face-to-face meetings, hands-on training with top industry experts and educators all while attending several of IFPA’s signature and industry events. The program is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Corteva Agriscience.

Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. named Curtis Valentine as its chief financial officer of the company, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Valentine is currently Sprouts’ senior vice president of finance and will succeed Lawrence (Chip) Molloy, who previously announced his intention to retire as chief financial officer at the end of 2023.

“We are delighted to elevate Curtis from our deep bench of finance talent to be our chief financial officer,” said Jack Sinclair, CEO of Sprouts. “Curtis and Chip have worked closely together for the last two years, and I believe there is no one better suited for the role to

John Freitas has joined Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the developer and grower behind Arctic apple varieties, as vice president of sales and business development.

With an impressive track record in the food industry, Freitas brings a wealth of experience and expertise to OSF, making him a valuable addition to the company's leadership team. In his new role, he will be pivotal in driving OSF's sales and business development strategies, fostering new partnerships, and expanding the reach of the groundbreaking Arctic apple varieties.

"John's appointment is a significant step in advancing the

Sun World International hired Bernardo Calvo as president and chief operating officer, reporting to CEO David Marguleas.

Calvo spent the bulk of his career at the Monsanto Co., now part of Bayer AG, in significant leadership roles across multiple countries. Calvo held CEO roles in regions around the world, as well as global head for some of the company’s franchises with responsibility for thousands of team members and several billion dollars per year.

“One of our mantras at Sun World is that we innovate boldly and commercialize carefully, and the same goes for hiring,”  Marguleas said. “This

Veteran business editor Seth Mendelson has joined The Produce News in a newly created role: New York Editor.

In his new role, Mendelson will be devoted exclusively to covering the vibrant New York produce industry, with special emphasis on the Hunts Point Market, as well as greater New York area wholesalers, retailers, foodservice distributors, brokers and shippers.

Mendelson spent nearly 20 years as the editorial director and publisher of Grocery Headquarters magazine, helping that publication develop a strong niche in the produce industry as they promoted the importance of the fresh