The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) held its annual meeting on November 1 in person at the Americana Hotel. This year the FPAA hosted the meeting just prior to the start of the 53rd Nogales Produce Convention and Golf Tournament.
The FPAA membership consists of distributor and associate member companies. Open board seats available included two-year terms for eight distributor members and one-year terms for two associate members. During the meeting, members could submit nominations for the available seats. FPAA outgoing chairman, Leonardo Tarriba of Farmer’s Best International, led this portion of the meeting.
The FPAA membership consists of distributor and associate member companies.
Tarriba completed his two-year term as chairman and was joined by the new FPAA chairman, Rod Sbragia, Crown Jewel Produce and outgoing past chair, Scott Vandervoet, Vandervoet & Associates.
Raquel Espinoza of Produce House was elected as the FPAA’s chair-elect where she will serve a two-year term before transitioning into FPAA chairwoman.
Distributors reelected to a two-year term, 2022-2024: Gonzalo Avila, Malena Produce; Martin Ley, Shipley Sales; Jose Antonio Martinez, Divine Flavor; Kyle McGrath, Tricar; Lesley Sykes, The Sykes Company
Distributors newly elected for a two-year term, 2022-2024: Frank Camera, SunFed; Enrique Garcia, Flavor King; Scott Vandervoet, Vandervoet & Associates
Associate newly elected to one-year term, 2022-2023: Alex Suarez, Suarez Brokerage
Associate reelected for one-year term, 2022-2023: Chuck Thomas of Thomas Produce
Newly elected division chairman: Tomato Division: JJ Badillo, Fresh International
Reelected division chairmen: Chris Ciruli of Ciruli Brothers (mango division); John Pandol of Pandol Brothers (grape division)
Directors who have one year left on their two-year terms, 2021-2023: Juan Manuel Ibarra, Marengo Foods; James Martin, Wilson Produce; Juan Pablo Molina, Fresh Farms; Walter Ram, The Giumarra Companies; Mikee Suarez, MAS Melons & Grapes; Omar Losolla, Seeded Produce; Guillermo Martinez, Frello Fresh
Nogales U.S. Customs Brokers Association seat: Demetrio Kyriakis, K&K International Logistics continues as the FPAA board representative of the Nogales US Customs Brokers Assoc.
The following board members completed their two-year terms, 2020-2022: Bobby Astengo, Peppers Plus; Matt Mandel, SunFed; Eric Meyer, Prime Time
The following board member completed his two-year term as Tomato Division chairman, 2020-2022: Jimmy Mungia, Del Campo
This year's meeting was also followed by the association's annual convention.
In the past year, FPAA has seen:
- The opening of the $135 million flyover route in Nogales
- In Texas, pushing back against the commercial shipping inspections imposed by Governor Abbott on Mexican imports
- Successfully facing down a Section 301 Trade Investigation petition from the Florida Congressional Delegation.
The meeting was followed by the annual convention, topped off by the Gala for Pillars of the FPAA award presented to Billy Sykes, Sykes Company.
For more information:
Lance Jungmeyer
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
lance@freshfrommexico.com
www.freshfrommexico.com
Allison Moore
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
amoore@freshfrommexico.com
www.freshfrommexico.com