Sakata Seed America has promoted Justin Davis to chief operating officer, vegetables, effective Feb. 1.

Davis, a 20-year veteran of Sakata, currently serves as executive director of commercial operations, where he leads sales, marketing and supply chain for the vegetable business. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for the end-to-end operations of Sakata Seed America’s vegetable business, integrating research and development, supply chain and vegetable seed sales and marketing to support innovation and long-term value creation. He will report directly to Dave Armstrong, president

Family Tree Farms promoted Brenton Helm to vice president of sales operations, effective Jan. 1.

Over the past 15-plus years, Helm has helped shape Family Tree Farms’ sales organization, contributing significantly to international growth initiatives, including the successful development and expansion of the company’s Asia sales programs. “I’m honored to take on this role and help strengthen the operational foundation supporting our sales organization. With the recent growth of our company — and continued growth ahead — it was the right time to strategically align our sales structure. I’m proud

Samantha Ayoub will join the International Fresh Produce Association as director of workforce and business policy on the U.S. Government Relations team effective Feb. 23.

Ayoub brings extensive expertise in agricultural economics, workforce and labor policy, and business operations affecting the food and agriculture sector. She most recently served as environment, labor and taxes economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation and previously held roles with U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and in plant pathology research.

In her new role, Ayoub will lead

After decades of shaping retail partnerships, mentoring teammates and bringing a little theater to the produce aisle, Tim Harrington is retiring from Stemilt Growers, closing a chapter defined by energy, integrity and an unwavering belief in the power of relationships.

Ask anyone who has worked with Harrington what set him apart, and the answer comes quickly: people. Customers, growers, colleagues — all mattered, and all were treated with the same intentional care.

“In just one word, his impact has been profound,” said Brianna Shales, discussing Harrington’s work on Stemilt’s retail

Peter Napolitano, who learned about fruits and vegetables working at a family produce store in New Jersey and gained fame talking about fresh produce to millions of television viewers for the past 35 years, died Jan. 26, 2026, a month shy of his 81st birthday.

Mr. Napolitano was born in New Jersey on Feb. 23, 1945, and grew up in Bergen County, near New York City.  His father started what would become Napolitano Produce in 1953 as a fruit stand in a Bergenfield parking lot selling watermelons. In 1971, Peter Napolitano took over the store and expanded it into one of the more popular businesses

Steve Young has rejoined Oppy as director of Canadian sales. In this role, Young will lead Oppy’s Canadian sales team with a focus on strategic growth, program expansion and strong alignment across sales, marketing and category teams.

Young brings more than two decades of produce industry experience to the role, including a deep history with Oppy. He first joined the company in 2008 as a sales representative and went on to hold leadership roles as sales manager and later director of sales for Canada before departing in 2018. Most recently, Young served as vice president of sales at BCfresh