United Fresh announces new Board Officer, Director nominations for 2014-2015

United Fresh Immediate Past Chairman David Krause, Paramount Citrus, has announced the slate of new officers and directors nominated to serve on the United Fresh Produce Association Board of Directors, effective at its April 22, 2014 meeting in Santa Barbara, California.

Ascending to Chairman of the Board is Ron Carkoski, President & CEO, Four Seasons Family of Companies, Ephrata, PA. Ron currently serves as Chairman-Elect of the Board. Nominated as Chairman-Elect is Brian W. Kocher, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Chiquita Brands International, Inc., Charlotte, NC. Brian will assume the Chairmanship of United Fresh in 2015.

Lorri A. Koster, Chairman and CEO, Mann Packing Company, will continue to serve in an ongoing term as Secretary-Treasurer.

Current United Chairman of the Board Ron Midyett, Chief Executive Officer, Apio, Inc., 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 April 2014:

Mark Campion, President, Taylor Farms Retail, Inc.
Rudi Groppe, President and CEO, Heinzen Manufacturing, Intl.
Steve Jarzombek, VP Produce Procurement and Merchandising, Roundy’s Supermarket
Carissa Mace, President, Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC)
Paul Mastronardi, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mastronardi Produce Ltd.
Bob Meek, Chief Executive Officer, Wada Farms Marketing Group
Mike Orf, Assistant Vice President, Produce Operations, Hy-Vee, Inc.
Susan Reimer-Sifford, Director of Produce Purchasing and Distribution, Darden Restaurants
Mario Steta, Group Vice President and General Manager-Central Mexico, Driscoll’s

Nominated as the Chairman of the United Fresh Foundation, which holds an ex-officio position on the United Board, is Jim Lemke, Senior Vice President of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN. Jim is a past Chairman of the Board of United Fresh, and has served as Senior Vice President at Robinson since December 2007; prior to that time, he served as Vice President, Sourcing and as Manager of C.H. Robinson's Corporate Procurement and Distribution Services division. As a member of the executive team, Jim has network supervision across multiple branch office locations in North America, Europe and Latin America. In addition, he has global network oversight for Robinson Fresh product and services, Management Services/TMC, C.H. Robinson’s Latin America business network and the corporate resources of warehouse/inventory solutions.

Current Board members nominated to new positions of service on Market Segment Boards and Councils include:

Chairman, Grower-Shipper Board - Tom Deardorff, Deardorff Family Farms
Chairman, Retail-Foodservice Board - Sean Picquelle, Taco Bell
Vice Chairman, Retail-Foodservice Board - Greg Corrigan, Raley's Family of Fine Stores
Chairman, Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council - Cindy Jewell, California Giant Berry Farms

“I’d like to personally thank those board members who are concluding their service at this upcoming meeting,” said United President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “Their contributions have greatly impacted our industry’s success in so many positive ways, and we appreciate the time and dedication they have given to serving our industry. I’d also like to thank David Krause and Board Development Committee members Ron Carkoski, Ron Midyett, Lorri Koster, Tom Deardorff, Bob Kirch, Sean Picquelle, and Bob Swartwout, for their work this year in nominating an impressive slate of officers and Board members. Our association’s strength comes from the diversity of leaders, coming together from all sectors of the produce supply chain under the United umbrella to drive our industry forward.”

For more information:
Ray Gilmer
United Fresh
Tel: +1 202-303-3425
Email: rgilmer@unitedfresh.org
www.unitedfresh.org