Adding to its roster of technology and industry experts, Stout Industrial Technology announced that Brent Shedd has been appointed as the CEO of the industrial solutions and artificial intelligence company. A serial founder and CEO of startups in the AI and autonomous vehicle industries, Shedd will work alongside the Stout team on both product and market expansion.

“No market has a greater need for automation today than agriculture,” said Shedd. “This is about our collective survival. We add more people to the planet every year and our food supply must keep up. The same labor shortages and

California-based avocado grower Index Fresh Inc. has added Nick Garcia to its sales and business development team with an eye toward growth in all areas within the U.S. and a specific focus on expansion in the foodservice sector. The move positions the over 100-year-old avocado company to build upon existing relationships and cultivate new partnerships through consistency, reliability, and integrity.

Garcia has built a 13-year sales career in fresh produce and has a proven track record within the avocado space. “Index Fresh is a solid company with a culture of collaboration and teamwork,”

Michelle Broom has resigned as president of the Ontario Produce Marketing Association, effective Feb. 11, 2022.

Over the last three years, Broom has been instrumental in supporting and executing the board’s strategic direction and she has implemented many new initiatives to ensure its continued growth and success as an association. Broom’s inspiring leadership has left a lasting impression on our organization, membership and community.

The board of directors said it wishes to express its thanks and deep appreciation to Broom for her passion, dedication and exceptional service to the OPMA

TUBAC, AZ — The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas announced new and returning board members during its recent convention. Leonardo Tarriba began the second year of his two-year term as chairman while Chairman-Elect Rod Sbragia from Tricar Sales and Past Chair Scott Vandervoet from Vandervoet & Associates have one year remaining in their positions. 

The following six distributors were re-elected to a two-year term for 2021-23:

• Raquel Espinoza of Produce House
• Juan Manuel Ibarra of Marengo Foods
• James Martin of Wilson Produce
• Juan Pablo Molina of Fresh Farms
• Walter Ram of The

Anthony (Buddy) Brago of Robert J. Ferrari Inc., a broker, grower and shipper of fresh produce located in Vineland, NJ, died Nov. 21 at Inspira Medical Center in Vineland. He was 63 years old and had pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Brago was born in Vineland to William and Christine (Campana) Brago, and graduated from Vineland High School in 1976. He owned and operated Buddy's Bagels, and then went to work in the casino industry in Atlantic City, NJ. It was while working in the casino industry that he met his future wife, Shirley Ferrari, who also worked in the casino industry. The two were married

Andrew Kamenitzer has joined Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet as an account executive for its sales team. Kamenitzer’s 20-plus years of sales and marketing experience will complement Seald Sweet’s sales team and support its strong position in the industry.

Kamenitzer began his produce career with Dole in 1999, were he found his calling in produce after managing restaurants for several years. He was successful in climbing the sales ladder, beginning as a merchandiser, then national product manager, onto district sales manager, and eventually achieved a senior sales manager position proving his