After 16 years as the staff lead for the Center for Produce Safety, Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli will begin a new chapter in mid-2025. As CPS executive director since 2008, she has guided the nonprofit that has invested more than $46 million to fund produce-specific food-safety research.

“The CPS mission is to fund research, find solutions and fuel change in fresh produce food safety,” Fernandez-Fenaroli said. “For me, the underlying strength that makes that possible is the world-class group of volunteers who have offered their time and expertise to make CPS the success it is today. I will miss

The New England Produce Council announced the appointment of David Dearborn of C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. as its new president and Jodie Reardon of Albertsons as its new first vice president, as well as two new members to its board of directors.

Dearborn brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to NEPC. With over 30 years in the produce industry, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic insight. Dearborn is the vice president of produce at C&S, where he has spent 30 years of his produce career. His journey in produce procurement has been driven by a

Rice Fruit Co. has promoted Alexandra Roberts to the position of vice president of culture and compliance. In this role, she will continue her dedication to ensuring food safety and fostering a responsible and sustainable company culture while expanding her influence as a leader within the company.

Roberts first joined Rice Fruit Co. as food-safety manager, spearheading food safety and compliance activities within the facility. Her role also involved close collaboration with local farm families and orchardists to implement and maintain efficient, good agricultural practices. Throughout her

Fresh Taste Produce CEO Sal Sarraino died Sept. 24. The company said Mr. Sarraino was a visionary leader, mentor, confidante, beloved colleague and a critical component of the produce industry at large.

As the driving force behind Fresh Taste Produce and an authority in the fresh produce industry, Mr. Sarraino fostered conducive environments for innovation and collaboration. His unwavering commitment to excellence and dedication to our mission has left an indelible mark on our organization and the entire industry.

One of Mr. Sarraino's many great accomplishments was the strength of the

Church Bros. Farms announced that Jennifer Lind has joined the company as director of business intelligence and analytics. Lind brings over 20 years of produce industry experience to this newly created position, blending expertise in sales operations with data-driven decision-making. She will lead the advancement of the company’s AI-driven processes in demand planning, customer segmentation, and revenue optimization. She will also be essential to integrating diverse data sources and refining business intelligence tools to support long-term forecasting and strategic decision-making for the

Top execs driving retail innovation — the winners of International Fresh Produce Association’s Retail Merchant Innovation Award — will be recognized at the Retail Awards Reception on Oct. 18 at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta. 

“These winners have elevated their retail strategy to new heights while driving produce consumption,” said IFPA Vice President of Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale Joe Watson. “We are thrilled to honor them with well-deserved recognition on a global stage.”

IFPA awarded winners in five store-count categories:
Price Mabry, Corner Market (1-50 stores), vice