Ocean Mist Farms hired veteran agricultural industry marketer Lori Bigras as its communications manager. With this hiring, Ocean Mist Farms has brought on an experienced professional with over 20 years in the produce industry.

In her new role, Bigras will be responsible for leading the day-to-day management of Ocean Mist Farms' social media marketing initiatives. She will also manage all trade and consumer public relations activities, develop, write and manage the company’s bi-weekly fresh produce blog, and create comprehensive marketing plans to boost brand image, increase customer

Andrew Iacobucci, senior executive vice president, field operations and chief commercial officer is leaving US Foods. He served as the company’s interim CEO in 2022 prior to Dave Flitman filling the permanent CEO position in January 2023.

With Iacobucci’s departure, the company has taken the opportunity to flatten its executive leadership team structure and has named Jim Sturgell, executive vice president, chief commercial officer responsible for local sales, commercial excellence and merchandising/marketing. Randy Taylor has been named executive vice president, field operations with P&L

Dollar General has been named Steve Deckard its executive vice president of growth and emerging markets, effective June 1. Deckard recently led the company’s international expansion into Mexico and began his DG career in 2006 as a regional director.

“Over the past 17 years, Steve has played an important role in the expansion of our business, helping to further our mission of serving others both in the United States and now Mexico,” said Jeff Owen, Dollar General’s CEO. “His proficiency in data science, retail operations and strategic implementation has been critical and we look forward to

Joe Ingardia Sr., who founded Ingardia Bros. Produce Inc. along with his brother Sam, died May 16, one month short of the company's 50th anniversary. He was 87.

Mr. Ingardia was born on Jan. 5, 1936, the second of five children of Pietro and Gaetana Ingardia, both from Sicily.

Mr. Ingardia immigrated to America from Tunisia at the age of 18 along with his mother, brothers Sam (Salvatore) and Larry (Lorenzo), and sister Marie (Maria). His father and his older sister, Kathy (Catarina), had come a year earlier to earn enough money for the rest of the family.

On June 16, 1973, Mr. Ingardia and

Strategic Sourcing International, parent company to PRO*ACT and PRO*FRESH, named Robert Rossi as the new managing director of PRO*FRESH Sourcing. He will lead the efforts to expand PRO*FRESH into warehouse consolidation, product merchandising and product sourcing solutions.

Rossi is an accomplished executive with over 35 years of experience in the agriculture industry. He began his career at 19, gaining extensive knowledge of the supply chain, from harvesting to distribution. He has worked in start-up and leadership roles for several companies, private ownership, buying organizations and

Baldor Specialty Foods, one of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic’s largest produce and specialty foods distributors, has appointed Scott Crawford as vice president of merchandising and Scott T. King as vice president of sales.

Crawford comes most recently from Fresh Direct, where he was chief merchandising officer. He previously led the prepared foods division at Whole Foods Market across several regions and has an extensive background in kitchens across America. 

At Baldor, merchandising is central to the company's promise of providing customers with quality they can trust; Crawford will