JOH hired Dennis Shannon as an account executive and account manager, joining the company's produce division in the Pittsburgh-Cleveland market.

Shannon is a highly respected sales and marketing professional with over 30 years of experience. With a strong background in growing brands across all channels, he understands the needs of both clients and customers and consistently delivers results. He has successfully grown clients in the produce, grocery and specialty categories within the club, grocery, mass, drug, convenience and alternate channels.

“We’re excited to welcome Dennis to our

By his own admission, Michael Madden of Macadu Fresh didn’t have a career in mind when he graduated from high school in Vineland, N.J., in 2001.

He didn’t envision pursuing a professional career in medicine or the law, and in fact, didn’t think college was his thing. He had a friend who was a plumber, so he gave that path a look for several months, but it did not resonate. What he did have was a little knowledge about the produce industry from some high school summer jobs and familiarity with farming because he grew up in Vineland in South Jersey, which is arguably the center of the state’s

Anna Basciani of Basciani Mushroom Farms died peacefully at home Oct. 15 while surrounded by her loving family. She was 93.

Ms. Basciani was the wife of the late Mario (Chuff) Basciani, with whom she shared over 70 years of marriage prior to his passing in September of 2020. Until the age of 80, she worked as a bookkeeper for the family business, Basciani Mushroom Farms.

Born 1929 at home in Toughkenamon, PA, Ms. Basciani was the daughter of the late Antonio Masciantonio and the late Mary DeDominic Masciantonio.

In addition to her role at Basciani Mushroom Farms, Ms. Basciani dedicated her

The California Avocado Commission has promoted Ken Melban to vice president of industry affairs and operations. A produce veteran with extensive experience, Melban joined the commission in 2011 as director, issues management. In 2015 he was promoted to vice president, industry affairs.

“Ken has provided more than a decade of service at the California Avocado Commission and we are very pleased that he will continue to lead the commission’s industry affairs programs, while taking on additional responsibilities for operations,” said CAC President Jeff Oberman. “This expanded position aligns with

After 30 years of dedicated service to Harris Teeter and a total of 47 years in the industry, Mark Hilton, vice president of produce merchandising has announced he will retire Nov. 30 this year.

Hilton began his career with Harris Teeter in 1992 as manager of produce merchandising, was promoted to director of produce and floral in 1995 and in 2001 was named vice president of produce and floral.

He began his grocery career at Safeway in 1975 as a courtesy clerk. He worked his way up in various retail stores, was a field specialist, a category manager, a field buyer, merchandising manager and

Ocean Mist Farms, a leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., hired Mark Munger as its senior director of marketing. With this hiring, Ocean Mist Farms has brought on an experienced professional with over 36 years in the produce industry.

In his new role, Munger will be responsible for leading the day-to-day management of trade and consumer marketing initiatives at Ocean Mist Farms. Prior to accepting the position, Munger served as vice president of marketing and strategy at 4Earth Farms, and before that he served as vice president of marketing at Andrew Williamson Fresh