The California avocado season is drawing to a close. With nearly 263 million pounds shipped through Aug. 14, the crop is estimated to be about 97 percent harvested. The California Avocado Commission delineates crop years based on its fiscal year timing of November through October. The 2021-22 crop year was highlighted by strong market conditions, an early start to harvesting and more of the crop shipping in the spring than is typical.

Marketing support for California avocados is now shifting into off-season mode. During the season, marketing was targeted to areas where the fruit was in

Tanimura & Antle promoted Brett Champlin to vice president of harvest. This newest promotion comes as the result of Champlin successfully managing the full scope of the company’s harvest department, one of its largest and most fundamental departments.  Champlin is stepping into the role of his predecessor, Nick Sgheiza, who was recently promoted to chief operations officer.   

“As an industry, it is becoming more and more important to retain and grow the next generation of talented leaders to move our industry forward. At Tanimura & Antle, we recognize that importance and intentionally

RJO Produce, one of the nation’s most innovative agriculture businesses, will enter a new era when it begins its 30th year in 2023. Renowned for bringing relationship-driven, fair business practices to the produce industry, RJO is the brain child of brothers Rob and John O’Rourke.

In 1993, the O’Rourkes launched RJO with a goal of providing customers with the personal service and trusted information they needed to purchase only the highest quality fruits and vegetables. From their first day in business, the brothers made it a priority to send their team into the growing regions where they

The U.S. Apple Association has named Brenda Briggs of Rice Fruit Co. chair of its board of directors for the 2022-23 term. She has served on USApple’s board since 2018, most recently as vice chair.

Briggs is vice president of the sales and marketing team with Rice Fruit Co., a Pennsylvania-based marketer, packer and shipper. In this capacity, she leads the company’s sales and marketing department, and is a member of its executive leadership team. She has been with Rice Fruit since 1999.

“We are thrilled to have Brenda at the helm of USApple’s board of directors,” said USApple President and

Kim St George, a 25-year produce industry veteran, has joined Dole Fresh Vegetables as vice president of sales, west region. St George will focus on expanding the Dole value-added salad business while also working closely with Dole’s Fresh Pack team in farm fresh vegetables.  

St George comes to Dole from Renaissance Food Group/Calavo where she served as vice president of business development. In that role she primarily focused on developing new customers and products in the retail, club and alternative channel segments for fresh vegetables, fruit and deli product lines.

Prior to that St

Dayka & Hackett, one of Frutura’s investments in the international fresh fruit business, has hired Stephen Fink as vice president of avocados. Fink, formerly vice president of North American sales for Mission Produce, will spearhead Dayka & Hackett’s introduction of avocados to the U.S. and global markets.

"This is significant and exciting news," said Frutura CEO David Krause. "Of course for Frutura and our global avocado operations, but more importantly, for customers wishing to partner with a company such as Frutura and its Dayka & Hackett business unit. Our network can provide a meaningful