The Organics Unlimited GROW Fund has selected Carmen Leticia Hidalgo Mujica as the first recipient of the Carlos Cortes Scholarship. This $15,000 scholarship honors the work and memory of organic banana pioneer Carlos Cortes Sr. and is awarded to an individual whose journey embodies the values of commitment to social responsibility, fair-trade and sustainability while championing innovation in the food industry.

“Through the GROW Fund, our aim is to give kids in rural, growing communities the same opportunity that my grandfather had, but so many children don’t have access to — an education,”

Apeel Sciences hired Denise Junqueiro as vice president of commercial – tropicals. Junqueiro will apply her extensive experience working with growers, packers, shippers, retailers, foodservice operators and policy makers toward developing and executing go-to-market strategies for Apeel’s tropicals business in the Americas and other global markets.

“Joining Apeel offers me a new way to approach the produce business and apply my skillset and expertise, starting with building relationships and educating partners about Apeel’s innovative ripe and ready to eat solutions,” said Junqueiro. “As

Bob Haarhues has joined Dovex Fruit Co. as national sales director.

Haarhues joins Dovex with several years of senior sales experience, including vice president of sales at Dovex’s partner company, Crunch Pak.  He held prior positions with SuperValu, in corporate produce for store formats, Amcor Flexibles Europe, Americas Fresh Produce and Stemilt Growers.

“We are at a critical growth juncture and it’s important that we have experienced senior executives managing customer relationships,” said Mauro Feliza, president Dovex.  “Bob’s experience with our company and the industry overall is vital

Hy-Vee Inc.'s Greg Kimmel, a 38-year veteran of the company and the produce manager at the Utica Ridge Hy-Vee in Davenport, IA, has won the Retail Produce Manager Award from the International Fresh Produce Association.

Kimmel is one of 15 produce experts being nationally recognized by IFPA for the creative merchandising techniques that he brings to the produce aisles. Kimmel began his career with Hy-Vee in 1985 and has worked in produce for nearly his entire career. For 23 years, he’s led top-performing produce departments across the company.

“I am so incredibly honored to win this award,”

Pandol Bros. Inc. President and CEO Cheri Diebel will retire at the end of 2023. Mitch Millwee will be joining the company later in 2023 as the new president and CEO.

Diebel has worked for PBI since 1981 in varying capacities, including her current role, which she's held since January of 2012. Diebel has overseen a period of planned growth, innovation and value creation, putting into practice the shareholders’ vision to improve asset efficiency and overall company performance and profitability.

“The Pandol family and board are grateful to Cheri for her steadfast leadership, commitment and

SpartanNash appointed Kerrie D. MacPherson to its board of directors, effective immediately. As an independent director, MacPherson will serve on the audit committee.

MacPherson brings more than three decades of international business experience working with senior management and boards to drive growth and innovation while efficiently scaling services to the market. She began her career as an auditor and spent 32 years at Ernst & Young LLP in various Americas and global leadership roles in M&A, advisory and sales and marketing.

In addition to the SpartanNash board, MacPherson serves as