Alsum Farms & Produce Inc., a leading fresh market grower, packer and shipper of Wisconsin-grown potatoes, onions and provider of fresh, quality produce, announced the recent addition of Gary Stevens as director of sales and business development. 

Stevens rejoins Alsum after working in the specialty meats category. In his new position, Stevens will be responsible for procuring and servicing national and retail, foodservice and wholesale grocer accounts.

 “Alsum Farms & Produce is excited to have Gary re-join our team in this new role,” said Heidi Alsum-Randall, chief operating officer –

After more than 46 years of dedicated service, Publix Super Markets’ Jacksonville Division Vice President Scott Brubaker has announced his decision to retire at the end of June. With Brubaker’s retirement, the company is promoting Adrian Bennett to assume the vacated position.

Brubaker, 62, began his Publix career in 1975 as a part-time front service clerk in Melbourne, FL. After working in different positions at several stores throughout Florida, he was promoted to store manager in 1987 and district manager in 1994. He was promoted to regional director in 1997 and to his current position in

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania and Vermont, hired Brianna Wilson as its new perishable shipping supervisor at its Lancaster, NY warehouse.

In this role Wilson will oversee the daily operations of perishable warehouse employees, ensure compliance with all company policies, assist in the training of new hires, and ensure all safety, production, sanitation and quality standards are attained.

Prior to joining the Tops team Wilson was a retail manager at Metz Culinary Management. She currently resides in Buffalo, NY.

Kimberly Paxton-Hagner, co-owner of Kwik Lok Corp. based in Yakima, WA, has been elected to the role of board chair for the company. Kwik Lok is a global company that was founded by Paxton-Hagner’s grandfather, Floyd Paxton, and has been run by her family for three generations. Paxton-Hagner assumed the role as chairperson at the company’s recent board meeting on April 1.

Paxton-Hagner succeeds John Rothenbueler as chairperson upon his retirement. Rothenbueler guided the company through the transition from the second to the third generation of ownership. Kwik Lok is now owned by sisters

Shenandoah Growers Inc., one of the nation’s leading and largest certified organic indoor farming companies with products available in most major retailers across the U.S., announced Cameron Geiger as chief operating officer as the company enters its next phase of transformational growth. Geiger will report to Shenandoah Growers President Phillip Karp and serve on the company’s executive leadership team.

Geiger, a seasoned supply chain expert, has served in a variety of operational and executive leadership roles at public and private companies focused on automation, innovation, and technology

Mario Anthony Pallotta, who owned and operated M.A. Pallotta Brokerage Co. for over 50 years, died unexpectedly March 17 at Melrose Wakefield Hospital as a result of complications from COVID-19. He was 82.

Mr. Pallotta had a tireless, old-fashioned work ethic that had him up at 2:30 a.m. six days a week, when he would head to his second home — the produce market in Chelsea, MA.

He never forgot his passion and affinity for his childhood home, The Italian home for Children, where he grew up from his infant years until his late teenage years. Throughout his entire life, Mr. Pallotta was an