Joe Feldman leaves PSJ to head commodity sales at Ocean Mist
Joe Feldman leaves PSJ to head commodity sales at Ocean Mist
CASTROVILLE, CA " Ocean Mist Farms, based here, has hired Joe Feldman as vice president of commodity sales. He most recently was vice president of sales and marketing for nearby Pride of San Juan, a role he held for the past two-and-a-half years.
Prior to working at PSJ, Mr. Feldman, 44, was a salesman for Apio Inc. for four years. Before Apio he had spent 16 years with River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC, finishing as sales manager.
Mr. Feldman will report to Maggie Bezart, Ocean Mist?s vice president of marketing and sales. With the addition of Mr. Feldman, Ms. Bezart can concentrate more on long-range planning and promoting programs and less on daily operations, she said.
?We need to bring on a strong commodity focus and Joe has that focus," Ms. Bezart said.
Mr. Feldman will have his finger on the pulse of the company?s daily process of getting product from the field to the cooler. He?ll also monitor sales and sales dollars, she said.
Ms. Bezart said that Ocean Mist is seeking to develop "very strong relationships in foodservice," noting that the company lacks strong programs for foodservice but "has the right products."
Ms. Bezart said that Mr. Feldman?s work on PSJ?s burgeoning "Emeril?s? line of prepackaged salads gives him a certain cache in the industry, and that he has strong "in-house? priorities for the Ocean Mist sales staff.
Mr. Feldman said that the only thing that could have pulled him away from PSJ was "a unique set of circumstances," and that Ocean Mist "is nearly the only company? that could have drawn him away from PSJ.
Mr. Feldman said that he?s always been impressed with how Ocean Mist grows its product, where it does its growing and with the company?s ability to deliver quality product year-round.
?For decades, I've viewed Ocean Mist as the best company in the Salinas Valley," Mr. Feldman said. "To me, this is the premier job in the industry."
Ocean Mist is very strong in the buying community and the growing community, Mr. Feldman said.
Mr. Feldman, who graduated from Bryant College in Rhode Island with a bachelor?s degree in business administration, comes to Ocean Mist with plenty of experience in some of the company?s major commodities, such as Iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and mixed leaf, but much less so with artichokes " the company?s industry-leading commodity.
?I'm big-time intrigued with artichokes," Mr. Feldman said. "I'm going to learn a lot."
Prior to working at PSJ, Mr. Feldman, 44, was a salesman for Apio Inc. for four years. Before Apio he had spent 16 years with River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC, finishing as sales manager.
Mr. Feldman will report to Maggie Bezart, Ocean Mist?s vice president of marketing and sales. With the addition of Mr. Feldman, Ms. Bezart can concentrate more on long-range planning and promoting programs and less on daily operations, she said.
?We need to bring on a strong commodity focus and Joe has that focus," Ms. Bezart said.
Mr. Feldman will have his finger on the pulse of the company?s daily process of getting product from the field to the cooler. He?ll also monitor sales and sales dollars, she said.
Ms. Bezart said that Ocean Mist is seeking to develop "very strong relationships in foodservice," noting that the company lacks strong programs for foodservice but "has the right products."
Ms. Bezart said that Mr. Feldman?s work on PSJ?s burgeoning "Emeril?s? line of prepackaged salads gives him a certain cache in the industry, and that he has strong "in-house? priorities for the Ocean Mist sales staff.
Mr. Feldman said that the only thing that could have pulled him away from PSJ was "a unique set of circumstances," and that Ocean Mist "is nearly the only company? that could have drawn him away from PSJ.
Mr. Feldman said that he?s always been impressed with how Ocean Mist grows its product, where it does its growing and with the company?s ability to deliver quality product year-round.
?For decades, I've viewed Ocean Mist as the best company in the Salinas Valley," Mr. Feldman said. "To me, this is the premier job in the industry."
Ocean Mist is very strong in the buying community and the growing community, Mr. Feldman said.
Mr. Feldman, who graduated from Bryant College in Rhode Island with a bachelor?s degree in business administration, comes to Ocean Mist with plenty of experience in some of the company?s major commodities, such as Iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and mixed leaf, but much less so with artichokes " the company?s industry-leading commodity.
?I'm big-time intrigued with artichokes," Mr. Feldman said. "I'm going to learn a lot."
