Veteran California produce industry member Jim Llano has been named director of sales and marketing at Santa Maria, CA-based Bonipak Produce Co.

Mr. Llano joined Bonipak three weeks ago with a mandate to oversee and manage the Bonipak sales staff in the further development of retail and foodservice accounts.

Mr. Llano leaves a position at Wenatchee, WA-based Stemilt Growers Inc., where he handled California export sales. While at Stemilt, Mr. Llano introduced multiple-load volume of Stemilt apples and pears directly into Puerto Rico and Mexico.

"We're looking to him to provide leadership," said Mitch Ardantz, vice president of sales and marketing and a partner in Bonipak. "He brings years of experience and insight to the table that we feel will jell with our sales team."

Mr. Ardantz said that he and Mr. Llano have been friends and associates for about four years, first meeting when the two worked together on an agribusiness advisory board at California Polytechnic Institute-San Luis Obispo.

"I think Jim brings a real high caliber to the organization -- he brings tremendous leadership," Mr. Ardantz said. "First and foremost is to get him acclimated to the team."

Mr. Llano fills a key role that had been vacant for about two years. While Bonipak had tried to fill the position, Mr. Ardantz and Rick Horn -- director of national accounts and business development -- shared responsibility for handing duties of the role. Mr. Llano's presence will allow Messrs. Ardantz and Horn to focus their efforts on seeking more business with new customers, Mr. Ardantz said.

Though Mr. Llano has jumped from a focus on fruits to a concentration on vegetables, Mr. Ardantz said that he hopes Mr. Llano brings key contacts to Bonipak.

Bonipak also announced that Kate McDonald has been named to the position of director of food safety and food security, a position created in late 2005. Her responsibilities will include management of the food safety and food security departments for Bonipak and Betteravia Farms.

Mr. Ardantz said that Ms. McDonald will "analyze, evaluate and enhance our existing programs from the farm level to receiving, cooling, shipping and processing."

Ms. McDonald, a graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with a bachelor's degree in crop science, worked for Guadalupe, CA-based Apio Inc. for three years, where she worked her way up to quality assurance and food safety manager. She is HACCP-certified and a certified food defense coordinator. Ms. McDonald "brings a tremendous amount of ability" to the role, Mr. Ardantz said.

Bonipak is a multi-commodity grower, packer, shipper and processor that supplies both the retail and foodservice industries. Its primary products are broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, spinach, mixed leaf vegetables and cilantro.