Calavo Growers, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Kurt Kistler as VP of sales, tomatoes and papaya, and the retirement of industry veteran Brian Bernauer.
Kistler brings more than 25 years of fresh produce industry experience after having spent the last seven years at Charlie’s Produce. He also previously held positions at Taylor Farms and UNFI. During his tenure at those respective companies, he became proficient in managing a national sales department, brokerage, purchasing, grower relations, marketing and quality control. In his position at Calavo, Kistler will direct all aspects of the company’s tomato and Hawaiian papaya programs, including sales, grower relations and shipping operations. He will report to Mike Browne, EVP sales and operations.
“We are estimating a record volume season from Culiacan, with promotable volumes from January through May,” said Kistler.
“We are excited to have a well-rounded and knowledgeable leader in Kurt to support and grow our tomato and papaya programs,” said Browne. “We also would like to thank Brian Bernauer for his many years of leadership and wish him well in his retirement.”
Calavo is entering a transitional period for its year-round tomato program in Mexico as the Jalisco greenhouse production wraps up in January, and commences the Culiacan season. Typically a mid-December start, due to heavy rainfall during planting season, this year’s Culiacan start may be slightly delayed until late December/early January. “We are estimating a record volume season from Culiacan, with promotable volumes from January through May,” said Kistler.
The company continues to offer its greenhouse-grown rounds and romas in a variety of packs and sizes. “We look forward to plenty of really good quality fruit,” said Megan Stallings, sr. account manager, tomato sales. “Upcoming changes to the Tomato Suspension Agreement could likely affect markets, however, as we head into that Culiacan season.”
For more information:
Lindsay Martinez
Calavo Growers
Tel: (+1) 805.921.3283
[email protected]
www.calavo.com