The International Foodservice Editorial Council announced Megan McKenna, senior director of marketing and foodservice for the National Watermelon Promotion Board, as the recipient of the 2021 Betty Bastion Outstanding Service Award. The council’s highest honor, informally called the “Betty,” is presented annually to an IFEC member who has made significant contributions to the well-being of IFEC and the field of foodservice communications through outstanding leadership, service and professionalism.  McKenna received the award during IFEC’s annual conference in Annapolis, MD, in October.

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During the “Recognizing the Best Part of PMA” Virtual Town Hall held Oct. 27, Produce Marketing Association and Center for Growing Talent announced and honored the winners of the suite of awards recognizing excellence across the industry. The awards recognize work of industry volunteers across the industry who transform, innovate, collaborate, and lead all those they encounter towards growing a healthier world.

“We have a saying that our association is not only for or members, but by our members, especially our industry volunteers,” said PMA CEO Cathy Burns. “Collaboration between our boards

John D’Arrigo, president, CEO and chairman of the Board for D’Arrigo California has been honored by the University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as an influential visionary and agricultural leader. John was bestowed the prestigious Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership in the agricultural industry, his service to the community and contributions to the University of Arizona’s, Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture. 

“We are honored to present John D’Arrigo the Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award. John is one of the true

Verdant Technologies announces the addition of produce industry veteran Harlan Ewert to the position of sales-director west, effective immediately.

Ewert comes to Verdant from 30-plus years with The Kroger Co. He has spent his career in the retail grocery business and brings procurement, leadership, lean process improvement and retail expertise to the Verdant sales team. Ewert will lead all Western sales initiatives for Verdant Technologies and report to Scott Harker, vice president of sales.

As produce category manager for Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the U.S., Ewert drove

Each year the nation honors military veterans who dedicated their lives to protecting the United States. After serving, veterans find their way into everyday life, often working jobs that serve Americans in different ways, such as in the produce industry. This year The Produce News recognizes those who served our nation and the produce industry with a special Veterans edition of our Sighting Salutes series.

A well-known veteran of the produce industry has joined the team at Mastronardi Produce to help support its recently expanded western business operations. The company has announced that JC Myers has joined as senior director of West Coast operations.

“We’re excited about the addition of JC to our team,” said Paul Mastronardi, president and CEO at Mastronardi Produce. “He is a proven industry leader who understands fresh produce retail markets and is passionate about quality and customer service — a great fit for our company and this role.”

JC is the third generation in his family to work in