Raina Nelson, president of Westfalia Produce, was named winner of the International Fresh Produce Association's 2023 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Women’s Catalyst Award.

The award, named after the industry legend in 2020, is given to someone in the industry who serves as a catalyst for women’s success in the industry and is announced by the previous year’s winner. Carrie Mack of Walmart, 2022 winner, welcome Nelson into the cohort of Catalyst honorees during the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast held on Saturday, Oct. 21.

“In her approach to mentoring and leadership,” Mack said, “a nominator

Two of Target's tenured executives — John Mulligan, executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Laysha Ward, executive vice president and chief external engagement officer — announced their plans to retire.

In other executive news, the company has named Matt Zabel as its chief corporate affairs officer, and Kiera Fernandez has been promoted to executive vice president and chief community impact and equity officer.

Mulligan will remain in his role until February 2024, at which time he will transition to a strategic advisor role with the company until February 2025. Ward will

Sun World International has appointed two industry professionals aimed at enhancing the depth of its fruit quality program and expanding the global marketing insights it offers to licensees. Joining the team are Elena Hernandez, director of global marketing insights, and Pablo Gómez, director of quality insights.

“Sun World is heavily invested in providing superior varieties to our licensees, and our focus on quality insights ensures that globally, retailers and consumers will receive high-quality, great-tasting fruit year-round. With the expansion of our global marketing insights team, we

While maintaining strong, honest and mutually benefiting partnerships with its customers has always been a priority for Michigan-based Riveridge Produce Marketing, it strengthens that commitment with the addition of John Woodall to its staff.

With more than 30 years in produce sales and marketing from both sides of the desk, Woodall joins directly from five years in a similar role at Michigan Apple Committee, an organization tasked with improving the profitability of Michigan’s fresh and processed apple industries.

“As we continue to grow our organization and think about the future, we knew

Costco Wholesale Corp. CEO Craig Jelinek will step down from his position, effective Jan. 1, 2024. The board of directors elected Ron Vachris, president and chief operating officer since February 2022, as president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.

Jelinek and Vachris have worked hand in hand over the last 21 months in Vachris' role as president and for many years before that. The company said this is the culmination of a long-standing succession plan that Jelinek had discussed with the board.

Vachris is a Costco veteran, with over 40 years of service to the company, starting as a forklift driver

Pacific Trellis Fruit/Dulcinea Farms welcomed industry veterans Mike Walsh and Seymur Ashumov to its team.

Walsh joins the company as East Coast sales manager. He brings over 11 years of produce industry experience and has excelled at various sales roles with increasing responsibility throughout his career. Most recently, he was a grape sales executive at Giumarra Vineyards and worked on the grape and stone fruit categories at CH Robinson/Robinson Fresh for five years. He is a Pennsylvania native, having graduated from St. Joseph’s University with a degree in food marketing. Walsh will be