The Texas International Produce Association is proud to announce the 2026 inductees into the Texas Produce Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious honors recognizing leaders whose vision, service and commitment have shaped the Texas produce industry. The celebration will take place on Monday, Jan. 19, at the Mission Events Center in Mission, TX, with festivities beginning at 6 p.m.

Established in 1988, the Texas Produce Hall of Fame acknowledges individuals who have made profound and lasting contributions to the growth and success of the produce trade throughout Texas. The event brings

JOH has hired Peter Poutre as senior vice president of strategy. In his new role, he will collaborate with division leaders to guide corporate strategy, support growth and help shape JOH’s future while staying true to the values that have guided the company for 70 years.

Poutre brings more than three decades of retail experience across grocery, club and dollar channels, with a career defined by operational excellence, category expertise and a people-first approach to building teams and partnerships. 

Following four years of distinguished service as a U.S. Marine, during which he was

Rivermaid Trading Co. has hired Chris Medeiros as export sales manager.

Medeiros has deep roots and extensive experience in production agriculture, packing operations, commercial strategy and brand development. His career has focused on aligning quality and consistency from orchard to consumers.

“My passion for this industry started in the field,” said Medeiros. “Growing great fruit is where everything begins but over time, I realized that long term success comes from understanding and investing in the entire process. How fruit is handled, marketed and delivered to the consumer matters just as

IPR Fresh has hired industry veteran Mark Munger as the company’s first vice president of marketing and business development. This strategic hire bolsters IPR Fresh’s commitment to accelerating growth, expanding retail and wholesale partnerships, and elevating its presence across the fresh produce industry.

Munger brings nearly 40 years of experience in the fresh produce sector, making him a valuable addition to the IPR Fresh leadership team. Most recently, he served as senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms, where he played a key role in executing a significant brand refresh and

John (Jay) William Holford, a longtime member of the produce industry and former CEO of Seald Sweet Growers, died Dec. 20. He was 95. 

Mr. Holford was born in Orange, CA, and moved to Vero Beach, FL, in 1986. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1951, demonstrating dedication and patriotism early in life. He retired as CEO from Seald Sweet Growers in 1994, concluding a remarkable career.

Mr. Holford’s career spanned over 40 years in the fruit and vegetable business, with a particular focus on the citrus industry. He was a well-known and respected member of multiple

Consalo Family Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned grower-packer-shipper-importer-distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables, has added Morgan DiMartino and Jose N. Garcete to its leadership team as the company continues to expand its national footprint and diversify its operations.

DiMartino returns to Consalo Family Farms, where she began her career in logistics. For four years, DiMartino served as logistics manager for Consalo Family Farms, helping build the transportation department from a one-person operation into a fully structured, high-performing team. Her efforts were instrumental