The International Fresh Produce Association announced its slate of new directors for the 2023 IFPA board of directors. The volunteer leaders will be confirmed by a ballot shared with membership and their board term will begin at the end of October.

The IFPA board of directors is led by the officers of the executive committee and will be led in 2023 by current Chair-elect Laura Himes, senior merchandising director at Walmart. Himes will inherit the role from current Chair Bruce Taylor, CEO of Taylor Farms.  Both Himes and Taylor will take the stage in Orlando, FL, at the Global Produce &

The New England Produce Council kicked off its annual Produce, Floral & Foodservice Expo Wednesday evening, Aug. 24, with two opening cocktail receptions, held at The Sporting Club at the Omni at the Seaport Hotel, in Boston. Coast to Coast Produce and North Bay Produce co-sponsored the VIP Reception, and 4M Fruit Distributors sponsored the Cocktail Reception, according to NEPC Executive Director Laura Sullivan.

Ahold Delhaize USA announced Nicholas Bertram, president of The GIANT Company, will leave the organization on Aug. 31 to pursue new opportunities. Upon Nick’s transition, John Ruane has been appointed interim president.

“We have been fortunate to have Nick lead The GIANT Company during his nine-year tenure,” said Kevin Holt, president, Ahold Delhaize USA. “His leadership has inspired very strong performance by the team. The GIANT Company has achieved a great deal of success, with growth in its local markets, innovation in operations and a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Carl Sam Maggio, who had a produce career stretching six decades, died Aug. 19 of natural causes after battling health issues for the previous two years. He was born Jan. 23, 1933, making him 89 at his death.

Over those decades he was involved in many innovative and successful produce ventures from working with the renowned “Carrot King” Joe Maggio (his uncle) to his partnerships in Maggio-Tostado, Sun World Inc., Sun and Sands Enterprises and Prime Time International.

Growing up in El Centro, CA, Mr. Maggio served in the U.S. Army and went on to  graduate from the University of Southern

Two coasts, 12 states, 3,028 miles, 175,000 vertical feet over three mountain ranges, all at an average speed of 17 miles per hour. “And we only had two flat tires,” Karin Gardner, executive director of marketing at Oppy, said of her team’s impressive top-category finish in the 2022 cycling event Race Across America.

The Love, Sweat & Gears team consisted of four riders — Gardner, Kilee Harmon, Lori Kabunde, Melanie Carvell and alternate Kimberley Ellis — 12 on the support team and two documentary filmmakers who captured the story of the experience.

Kicking off in Oceanside, CA, and

Bobalu Berry Farms continues on its growth track as the company celebrates 60 years of farming fresh strawberries this year in California.  Another staff position has been added to help streamline packaging, supplies and inventory management throughout all growing regions.

John Knappe was hired as procurement manager for Bobalu LLC, working with Michael Cleugh, vice president of operations for Bobalu and processing company AgriFrost LLC. Knappe, who was born and raised in the Salinas area and is working from the company’s Monterey sales office, has been in the produce industry for nine years