United Fresh announces nominations for new board 2013-2014
Ascending to Chairman of the Board is Ron Midyett, CEO of Apio Inc., Guadalupe, CA. Ron currently serves as Chairman-Elect of the Board. Prior to joining Apio in 2005, Ron held the position of Senior Vice President of Operations at Dole Fresh Vegetables. Ron received a degree in Food Biochemistry from the University of California at Davis and is an alumnus of Class 6 of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program.
Nominated as Chairman-Elect is Ron Carkoski, President & CEO, Four Seasons Family of Companies, Ephrata, PA. Ron joined Four Seasons in 1994 as director of procurement, after almost 20 years in the produce business with Gateway Foods/Scrivner, Carpenter Cook Company, and Gamble Robinson Co. He progressed to vice president at Four Seasons, and was named President & CEO in 2001. He was nominated to his second term on the United Fresh Board in 2010, previously serving from 2003-2007 and most recently served as Chairman of the United Fresh Wholesaler-Distributor Board. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, recently completed his term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia and the Susquehanna Valley, and served as a member of the Board of Advisors for Graystone Bank in Pennsylvania. Ron received his bachelor’s degree in music education from St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI.
Nominated as Secretary-Treasurer is Lorri A. Koster, Chairman and CEO, Mann Packing Company. Lorri was raised in the agriculture industry and is a third generation family member to work in produce. She started her full-time career at Mann in 1990. In 2000 she joined ProduceOnline.com as vice president of marketing, and subsequently served as associate publisher with Produce Business magazine, and as owner/publisher of Coastal Grower magazine. She returned to her family business full-time in 2006. In 2000, Lorri served as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the International Fresh-Cut Produce Association, becoming the first woman to chair a US national produce trade association. She served as Chairwoman of the Grower Shipper Association of Central California, and as a member of the PBH Executive Board, PMA’s Foundation for Industry Talent board, and board alternate for the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
Current United Chairman of the Board David W. Krause, President, Paramount Citrus, will move to the position of Immediate Past Chairman and remain on the Board and the Executive Committee.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as new members of the United Fresh Board for a two-year term beginning May 2013:
To see the full list of new nominees, as well as board members taking up new positions, can be viewed here.
For more information:
United Fresh
Tel: +1202 303 3400
www.unitedfresh.org
