West Pak plans ahead for supply transitions; Cruz joins sales team as intern
West Pak plans ahead for supply transitions; Cruz joins sales team as intern
“Mid- to late August will be a time of transition regarding supply here in the U.S.,” said Doug Meyer, vice president of sales and marketing at West Pak Avocados Inc. in Murrieta, CA, in a written statement to The Produce News. “Mexican supply will be fully into the new crop. Quality and maturity are good, and supply is forecasted to be consistent.”
“California and Peru’s supplies will be winding down during that same period,” Meyer continued. “Chile will be gearing up to start supplying the U.S with their first shipments from their new crop. Chilean fruit will likely start arriving to the U.S. between mid-September and mid-October.”
At West Pak, “our sourcing teams are out ahead planning for our supply transitions, and keeping us informed so we can keep our valued customers informed,” Meyer said in the statement. “Late summer is always a time when we work closely with our partners to recommend the right supply transitions for them and assist in planning their fall promotional activities.”
Edward Yanez (Eddie) Cruz has joined the West Pak sales team for a summer internship. “Eddie is studying agribusiness at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Over the summer he has been working closely with my sales team, learning the inner workings of our company and networking within the fresh produce industry at trade events,” Meyer said. “We are pleased” to have him on the team.
Cruz was born in Bakersfield, CA, “an agriculturally rich city in the lower San Joaquin Valley,” according to a West Pac press release. “Naturally the vast agricultural influence around him drew his interest towards studying an agricultural related major in college. He is an incoming fourth year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he majors in agricultural business.”
Cruz “has been involved in various clubs at Cal Poly, such as the United Sorority and Fraternity Council where he served as president, Latinos in Agriculture, and The Hispanic Business Student Association,” the release stated. “He was also a part of Cal Poly’s National Agri-Marketing Association team, which recently won a national championship in student marketing. Edward has interned in the past for California Olive Ranch as a grower relations intern and most recently for Paramount Citrus as a farming supervisor intern. He is very excited to join West Pak Avocado Inc. as a sales intern and is eager to learn about the avocado industry over the next few weeks.”
