Galone moves to Booth Ranches
Galone moves to Booth Ranches
After more than eight years in the Northwest fruit industry, Diamond Fruit Co. Vice President of Marketing Neil Galone has announced he is moving back into California citrus as vice president of sales for Booth Ranches in Orange Cove, CA.
Mr. Galone, who has been with Odell, OR-based Diamond since 2005 and who was vice president of sales for the fresh division of Snokist in Yakima, WA, for five years prior to the Diamond move, told The Produce News Aug. 5 that his last day in Odell was to be Aug. 8.
Diamond recently entered into an agreement with Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA. Mr. Galone said he chose to move back to his produce roots.
"My background is in citrus," Mr. Galone said. "I first came into the produce industry in sales with Sunkist in Pittsburgh, and from there I went to Florida to work in citrus as well. It was when I moved to the Northwest that I had my first exposure to apples, pears and cherries."
Loren Booth, general manager at Booth Ranches, said in a prepared release that his company is "pleased to have someone with Neil's background ... to fill out the sales team. He brings with him a wealth of experience that will take our marketing group to the next level."
With 8,700 acres in Navels, Valencias and other varieties, Booth Ranches is a fully integrated grower-shipper-marketer of citrus, and Mr. Galone praised the operation's attention to growing methods and the quality control at its two packinghouses.
"The best way to get the best return is to pack the best quality," Mr. Galone said. "You can't make good fruit out of bad fruit in the packinghouse." He went on to say that Booth puts its emphasis on the groves, which he described as "pristine."
Mr. Galone added, "They spend the money to get it right."
In the prepared announcement, Mr. Galone said that the operation's production people "understand the demands of today's marketplace, and they do what's necessary to deliver the quality we need."
Regarding leaving the Northwest, Mr. Galone said, "It's absolutely beautiful country, but I am really looking forward to a warmer winter."
Mr. Galone, who has been with Odell, OR-based Diamond since 2005 and who was vice president of sales for the fresh division of Snokist in Yakima, WA, for five years prior to the Diamond move, told The Produce News Aug. 5 that his last day in Odell was to be Aug. 8.
Diamond recently entered into an agreement with Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA. Mr. Galone said he chose to move back to his produce roots.
"My background is in citrus," Mr. Galone said. "I first came into the produce industry in sales with Sunkist in Pittsburgh, and from there I went to Florida to work in citrus as well. It was when I moved to the Northwest that I had my first exposure to apples, pears and cherries."
Loren Booth, general manager at Booth Ranches, said in a prepared release that his company is "pleased to have someone with Neil's background ... to fill out the sales team. He brings with him a wealth of experience that will take our marketing group to the next level."
With 8,700 acres in Navels, Valencias and other varieties, Booth Ranches is a fully integrated grower-shipper-marketer of citrus, and Mr. Galone praised the operation's attention to growing methods and the quality control at its two packinghouses.
"The best way to get the best return is to pack the best quality," Mr. Galone said. "You can't make good fruit out of bad fruit in the packinghouse." He went on to say that Booth puts its emphasis on the groves, which he described as "pristine."
Mr. Galone added, "They spend the money to get it right."
In the prepared announcement, Mr. Galone said that the operation's production people "understand the demands of today's marketplace, and they do what's necessary to deliver the quality we need."
Regarding leaving the Northwest, Mr. Galone said, "It's absolutely beautiful country, but I am really looking forward to a warmer winter."
