The United Fresh Produce Association has announced the slate of new officers and directors nominated to serve on its board of directors, effective April 29 at its meeting in White Sulphur Springs, WV.

Ascending to chairman of the board is Brian W. Kocher, interim chief executive officer of Chiquita in Charlotte, NC. Kocher currently serves as chairman-elect of the United Fresh board.

Nominated as chairman-elect is Tony Freytag, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Crunch Pak Sliced Apples in Cashmere, WA.

Nominated to secretary-treasurer is Lisa Strube, director of finance and administration for Strube Celery & Vegetable Co., who most recently served as the chairman of the United Fresh Wholesaler Distributor Board.

Current United Chairman Ron Carkoski, president and CEO for Four Seasons Family of Cos., will move to the position of immediate past chairman and remain on the board and the Executive Committee.

The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as new members of the United Fresh Board for a two-year term beginning April 2015:

• Brian Antle, harvest manager for Tanimura & Antle in Salinas, CA, who most recently served as a member of United’s Grower-Shipper Board, and is an alumnus of United’s Produce Executive Development Program at Cornell University.
• Jackie Caplan Wiggins, vice president and chief operating office for Frieda’s Inc. in Los Alamitos, CA, who is a graduate of the inaugural class of United’s Produce Industry Leadership Program. She has served on United’s Research & Education Foundation Board, PMA’s Exposition Committee, and in 2011 she joined United’s Wholesaler Distributor Board. She has been nominated as vice chairman of the Wholesaler-Distributor Board.
• Suresh DeCosta, manager of quality systems for U.S. supply chain management for McDonald’s Corp. in Oakbrook, IL. In 2008, he joined United’s Food Safety & Technology Council. In 2010, he was nominated to lead the Council’s Technical Working Group for standard harmonization of Good Agricultural Practices and the following year received United’s Technical Award in recognition of his leadership.
• Bret Erickson, president and CEO of the Texas who serves on the USDA Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, the board for the Canadian Fruit & Vegetable DRC, the Border Trade Alliance, and United’s Government Relations Council.
• Bob Mast, president of Columbia Marketing International in Wenatchee, WA, who serves as a member of the PEIB Council for PMA, Washington State Horticultural Association, as well as a Director for the Washington Apple Education Foundation, and Washington Apple Commission.
• Michael Muzyk, president of Baldor Specialty Foods Inc. in the Bronx, NY, who recently served on United’s Wholesaler Distributor Board.
• Jason Pounds, partner at Hardie’s Fresh Foods in Dallas, who in 2013 he became an inaugural member of United’s Finance & Business Management Council.
• Howard Roeder, president of Dole Fresh Vegetables in Monterey, CA.
• Dorn Wenninger, vice president of produce and floral at Walmart in Bentonville, AR.
• Ross Wileman, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Mission Produce in Oxnard, CA.
• Charles Wingard, vice president of field operations for Walter P. Rawl & Sons Inc. in Pelion, SC and a member of United’s Government Relations Council since 2007. He was also nominated as the new chairman of the council.

Current Board members nominated to new positions of service on market segment boards and councils include

• Chairman, Retail-Foodservice Board – Greg Corrigan of Raley’s Family of Fine Stores.
• Vice Chairman, Retail-Foodservice Board – Susan Reimer Sifford, Darden.
• Chairman, Fresh-Cut Board – Bob Swartwout of Direct Advantage.
• Vice Chairman, Fresh-Cut Processor Board – Jim Catchot of Renaissance Food Group.
• Chairman, Wholesaler Distributor Board – Bob Kirch of Caito Foods Service.
• Chairman, Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council – Cindy Jewell of California Giant Berry Farms.

The following officers of Market Segment Boards and Councils will continue their service on the Board:

• Chairman, Supply Chain Logistics Council - Kenny Lund of Allen Lund Co. Inc.
• Chairman, Grower-Shipper Board – Tom Deardorff II of Deardorff Family Farms.
• Vice Chairman, Grower-Shipper Board - Bob Meek of Wada Farms Marketing Group.

The following at-large board members will continue their service on the Board: Bill Brim of PFG Focus, Bill Brooks of Westlake Produce Co., Mark Campion of Taylor Farms Inc, Aaron Fox of Fox Packaging, Rudi Groppe of Heinzen Manufacturing International, Fred Heptinstall of IFCO Systems N.A., Steve Jarzombek of Roundy's Supermarkets Inc., Carissa Mace of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council, Paul Mastronardi of Mastronardi Produce Ltd., Lisa McNeece of Grimmway Enterprises Inc., Bob Morrissey of the National Watermelon Association Inc., Mike Orf of Hy-Vee Inc., Gordon Robertson of Sun World International LLC, Rob Schrick of Bayer CropScience, Mike Spinazzola of Diversified Restaurant Systems and and Mario Steta of Driscoll's.

“United Fresh has a strong history of bringing together members from all sectors of the industry to lead our association forward,” United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel said in a press release. “This line-up of nominees for our consolidated board of directors, together with our returning board members and new officers, makes a tremendously impressive slate of leaders who will ensure a powerful voice for our membership and our industry.”

Board members concluding service at the April 2015 meeting include Immediate Past Chairman Ron Midyett of Apio Inc.; Scott Danner of Premier Produce, who served as chairman of the Finance & Business Management Council; Bob Elliott of Sunkist Growers Inc., who served as chairman of the Food Safety & Technology Council; David Hille of Cabbage Inc.; John Keeling of the National Potato Council, who served as chairman of the Government Relations Council; Joe Klare of Castellini Co. LLC; Lorri Koster of Mann Packing Co., who served as secretary-treasurer; Angela Nardone of N2N Global; Roger Pepperl of Stemilt Growers LLC, who served as chairman of the Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council; Dave Russell of Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc.; Randy Scott of Delhaize America, who served as chairman of the Retail-Foodservice Board; and Mike Wootton of Sunkist Growers.

“I’d like to personally thank Immediate Past Chairman Ron Midyett and Secretary-Treasurer Lorri Koster, who served with distinction as officers this year, and all of those Board members who are concluding their service at this upcoming meeting,” Stenzel added in the press release. “Our industry is ever-changing, and their contributions and thoughtful leadership have positively impacted our industry’s success and advanced our organization in so many ways. I’d also like to thank Ron Midyett and Board Development Committee members Ron Carkoski, Greg Corrigan, Brian Kocher, Lorri Koster, Bob Kirch, Bob Meek and Bob Swartwout for their work this year in nominating an impressive slate of officers and board members. Their job is to help develop a strong and representative leadership on the Board for the coming years to drive our association forward, and I commend them to developing a slate of impressive industry leaders.”