The International Fresh Produce Association mourns the recent passing of Peter Goulet, a past chair of the Produce Marketing Association (an IFPA legacy organization) and long-time member and contributor to the fresh produce community.
As chair, Goulet led the organization forward in the aftermath of the 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to spinach that changed how PMA and the industry addressed food safety. “You can safely say that Peter played a large role in taking PMA’s role to a much higher level than it had ever been before,” said former PMA CEO Bryan Silbermann. “What flowed from his year as chair was not only the hiring of our first food safety expert (Dr. Bob Whitaker) a year later but also the support PMA provided in the creation of the Center for Produce Safety.”
Before becoming chair in 2006, Goulet was a consummate volunteer for PMA, where he served as Fresh Summit chair, the Retail Division Board chair, and member of the Retail Division Board of Directors, the Food Safety Task Force, and Returnable Packaging Task Force to name just a few.
He also provided his time and expertise to retail advisory boards of the Washington Apple Commission and Ready Pac Produce, as well as served on the Board of Directors for the New England Produce Council.
“Peter was a true produce professional who always had an eye on giving shoppers the absolute best fresh fruits and vegetables and in-store experience,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns, who worked alongside Goulet in her time at Hannaford Bros. “Most importantly, he was a friend and someone who wanted to do right by everyone he met. I will miss him dearly, and the IFPA team extends our condolences and sympathies to Cathy and the whole Goulet family.”
Services will be held April 2-3 at Cote Funeral Home in Saco, Maine. His obituary has been published here; the family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, consider donating in Goulet’s name to The Dempsey Center or The Foundation for Fresh Produce, which promotes healthy eating for children and families.
For more information:
Siobhan May
IFPA
Tel.: +1 (302) 781-5855
SMay@freshproduce.com
www.freshproduce.com