FPFC celebrates industry leaders at annual awards
FPFC celebrates industry leaders at annual awards
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council honored three standout leaders at its annual awards ceremony, spotlighting individuals whose careers have shaped and strengthened the produce and floral industries.
Andrew Bivens, president and CEO of Westlake Produce Co., received the Norman H. (Buz) Bolstad Legacy Award, the council’s highest recognition for distinguished leadership and long-standing commitment to its mission. Bivens began his career as a produce clerk for Ralphs Grocery Co. in 1990, later becoming a produce manager and category manager before joining Westlake Produce in 2002. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, working under mentors Bob Franks, Bill Brooks and Jeff Miller, before taking ownership of Westlake with partners Shawn Patrick and Peter O’Brien in 2020.
Bivens’ career is marked by accolades including graduation from Cornell University’s Executive Development Program and completion of the University of Notre Dame’s Executive Program in Negotiation and Conflict Management. He served on the FPFC board of directors from 2012 to 2024 and is chair of the FPFC Educational Foundation.
“We are so excited to honor Andrew Bivens with our annual Norman (Buz) Bolstad Award,” said FPFC President Bob Lanter. “Andrew exemplifies what it means to be a leader and leave a legacy. He continues to leave an indelible mark on those he works with, always looking to give back to an industry that has given him so much.”
Kristen Reid, partner at MIXTEC Group, was named the first-ever recipient of the Jan DeLyser Trailblazer of the Year Award. The honor recognizes those who break new ground and drive transformative change in marketing, merchandising, sustainability and other areas across the industry.
Reid joined MIXTEC in 2008 as a senior recruiter, becoming a partner in 2012, and has been instrumental in executive search and leadership development across the produce supply chain. Her industry involvement includes serving on the FPFC board of directors and previously on the United Fresh Produce Association Board. She graduated from the United Fresh Produce Leadership Program and in 2020 received the PMA’s Frieda Rappaport Caplan Women’s Catalyst Award.
“Kristen Reid is a phenomenal choice for our honoree for the first-ever Jan DeLyser Trailblazer Award,” said Lanter. “Kristen has worked tirelessly to dedicate herself not only to her organization but to the produce and floral industry. Her leadership has helped the FPFC chart a course toward success for 2025 and the years to come. It’s hard to fathom where we would be without her vision and leadership.”
The council also recognized Paige Venable, director of floral operations at Vallarta Supermarkets, with the Floral Member of the Year Award. Venable’s career began at Ralphs Grocery Co. in 1997, where she discovered her passion for floral retail. She went on to serve as Southern Pacific regional floral buyer at Whole Foods Market before joining Vallarta Supermarkets in 2018.
Venable is known for her emotional intelligence, strategic insight, and commitment to excellence, all of which have helped elevate floral programs and unify the floral and produce communities.
“We could not think of a more fitting choice for this year’s FPFC Floral Member of the Year Award than Paige Venable,” said Lanter. “Paige has been at the forefront of reinvigorating and building our floral program at the FPFC. Her passion, wisdom, experience and leadership are invaluable to our entire membership.”
Together, the three honorees reflect FPFC’s mission to foster education, mentorship and innovation across the produce and floral sectors — and to honor those who continue to shape the industry’s future.
Photo: Andrew Bivens, Kristen Reid and Paige Venable
