Natural Delights promoted David Baxter to vice president of sales and marketing. Baxter has been an integral part of the Natural Delights team for the past six years, demonstrating exceptional leadership and vision for the company.

Baxter's journey with Natural Delights began as a product manager, where he focused on innovation and maintaining high product standards. His dedication and expertise quickly propelled him to the role of director of marketing and business development, where he focused on developing and executing marketing strategies while driving business growth.

Now, as vice

JOH, a leading independent food broker based in Billerica, MA, with 17 offices and strategic partnerships across the United States, announced the addition of a new account executive in the produce division in New England.

Michael Kominsky joins JOH with more than a decade of sales experience in the produce industry. He began his career as a regional sales manager at Hampton Farms, where he helped build and expand the business throughout the Northeast.

Kominsky continued his career as a regional customer manager at Fresh Express before serving as a regional sales manager for Ventura Foods

Main Street Produce (also known as Freshway Farms) has hired Mark Murai as its CEO. Murai grew up in the strawberry business and brings 40 years of berry and other fresh produce industry experience to the role.

Prior to joining Main Street Produce, he held senior level management positions with Prima Wawona, SunOpta and Sunrise Growers. Murai also served as president of the California Strawberry Commission for seven years, president of Calberi for seven years and president of Murai Farms for eight years. Murai is a past appointee on the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade

Farm Direct Partners has appointed two produce industry specialists — Jackie Carrillo as executive vice president of sales and Dan Acevedo as director of business development — as key executives in a strategic move that will further advance the company’s exponential growth in the imported lime category.

According to data from the USDA, U.S. lime imports by value have risen 69.5 percent since 2020, reaching nearly $860 million dollars for the 2023-24 market year.  However, during the same period, U.S. imports by volume have grown a mere 3.6 percent. This discrepancy highlights the market’s

Joseph A. (Joe) Hynes, longtime food industry consultant and founder of Joe Hynes Consulting Co., died March 9, of complications from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Mr. Hynes met his four-year ALS challenge with unwavering courage and dignity, while never losing his sense of humor and always encouraging his vast network of contacts to “live in the now.”

Mr. Hynes, who founded Joe Hynes Consulting Co. in 1985, became a nationally recognized expert, speaker and job creator in the wholesale and retail grocery industry, specializing in fresh seafood (opening

The Raley’s Cos. has promoted Mike Gabbert and Donna Mendes, two longstanding leaders within the company.

Gabbert has been promoted to senior vice president, chief of human resources, leading all aspects of HR, including talent acquisition, benefits, compensation, leadership and development, and team member relations.

A proven leader, Gabbert has worked for Raley’s for more than 40 years. He started his career at Raley’s in HR and his vast experience spans different parts of organization, including 19 years in store operations, and most recently leading Raley’s distribution and logistics.

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