The International Fresh Produce Association hired Jessica Keller as its vice president of global industry relations.  

Keller is the first to serve in this role, which was created to align with IFPA’s core commitment to grow member value globally. She will direct and support the association’s global representatives and country councils and committees and lead the implementation of the association’s global portfolio.  

“Jessica brings a deep knowledge of the global produce and floral supply chain along with years of experience building relationships with global companies,” said Chief

Duane Eaton, a long-time senior staff executive who led the Meetings and Trade shows team at the International Fresh Produce Association's legacy organization Produce Marketing Association, died July 3. He was 75.

“Duane was a foundational part of PMA, serving under CEOs Bob Carey and Bryan Silbermann. As PMA’s 12th employee, Duane saw the organization through an incredible period of growth and transformation,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “While we still see echoes of his work in today’s IFPA programs, not all his energy was member-facing. He played an integral role in helping shape

The Washington Apple Commission named Michael Schadler as its new president. Schadler, executive vice president for the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange and the Florida Tomato Committee, will succeed Todd Fryhover, who plans to retire after leading the Washington Apple Commission for 18 years.

Schadler will assume the position in September 2024 and work closely with the WAC international marketing team to develop and implement strategies for the commission’s promotional programs in foreign markets. He will also act as the primary liaison for Washington apple

Kim Chackal, the woman behind Equifruit’s genius marketing and phenomenal sales growth, has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for the Montreal-based company.

Chackal joined Equifruit in December 2014 on a five-hour per week contract, a “let’s see if this is a fit” agreement. Subsequently, she moved from sales rep to sales manager, and in 2019, took on responsibility for Equifruit’s marketing as well in her new role as director of sales and marketing.

In 2020, Chackal managed a major rebranding project and has since overseen award-winning in-house marketing campaigns that

The U.S. Apple Association has promoted Christopher Gerlach to vice president of insights and analytics.

Gerlach joined USApple in July 2020 as the director of industry analytics. Over the past four years, he has drawn on his strong economic and data analysis skillset to prepare proprietary reports, webinars and presentations that offer unparalleled business intelligence to the apple industry.

Inteligistics, which has been developing digital technology solutions to streamline and transform the fresh food industry supply chain for over a decade, has announced the appointment of Gary Fleming as its new chief executive officer.

Throughout his career, Fleming has been at the forefront of supply chain efficiencies and technologies, developing standards and industry best practices across the fresh food sectors to improve traceability and visibility in the supply chain. He has participated on and/or chaired over 30 global best practice committees.

While serving as vice president