Following a breakout year of accelerated growth and commercial milestones, ProducePay, the marketplace transforming the global produce industry into a more connected and sustainable supply chain, appointed Patrick McCullough as its new CEO, succeeding Pablo Borquez Schwarzbeck, who has served as CEO since founding the company in 2014.

Prior to being appointed CEO, McCullough served as a board member and advisor to ProducePay for two years. An esteemed global business leader, McCullough brings to this role more than 25 years of corporate experience and deep expertise in international business

Church Bros. is expanding its team and promoting staff within ag operations to support its growing foodservice and retail business.

Brian Hunt, recently appointed senior vice president of ag operations, is restructuring and expanding the ag operations leadership team to support his vision of increased alignment across the organization. This new structure will create continuity across each of the new directors who will be responsible for their assigned crops, enhancing yields and increasing customer satisfaction.

“As we continue to expand our foodservice and retail business, it is critical to

Deb Conklin will become KeHE’s president and CEO on April 1, and Brandon Barnholt will move into the executive chairman role. Barnholt, who turns 65 in April, has been the company’s president and CEO for 15 years and helped lead the company through a time of extraordinary growth.

During Barnholt's tenure, KeHE expanded from a Midwest specialty distributor to the largest pure play distributor of specialty, natural, organic and fresh products in North America, including the acquisition of Tree of Life, Nature’s Best and Monterrey Provisions.

The change in executive leadership is the result of

Peak of the Market hired Taylor Fenn as its new director of marketing and communications.

With eight years of experience in various communications roles and a love of vegetables, Fenn looks forward to using her knowledge and passion to enhance the Peak brand. Fenn’s professional career began with an internship at Sobeys Inc. before moving into positions in both the private and public sector after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. She also holds a bachelor's in communications from the University of Winnipeg.

Fenn joins Peak of the Market after three

Longtime produce industry great Ron Carkoski died at the age of 69 surrounded by his family on Jan. 5.  Mr. Carkoski was known as a strong leader with a big heart, for his sense of humor and musical talent, and as someone who made an impact on lives and careers of so many.

Mr. Carkoski served as the CEO of Four Seasons Family of Cos. from 2002 through 2018 when he retired. His career at Four Seasons Produce in Pennsylvania started in 1994 as the director of procurement after previous leadership roles at Gateway Foods in Wisconsin.  Mr. Carkoski grew up around the produce business with his

Monterey Mushrooms has promoted long-time teammate Mike Stephan to vice president of sales and business development. Stephan has supported the national sales team for nearly two decades. He will continue to be intimately involved in day-to-day business, but now he will have a concentrated focus on overall business strategy and opportunities that will drive the company’s long-term success.

“I am very excited about Mike’s well-deserved promotion," said Mike O’Brien, past vice president of sales and business development. "He is knowledgeable in all aspects of growing and selling mushrooms. Mike