The U.S. National Technical Working Group for GLOBALG.A.P. appointed Marianna Solorio, director of food safety and quality assurance at Bonipak Produce, as its new chairperson. Solorio assumed the role Jan. 22. Solorio succeeds long-standing chairperson Walter Ram of The Giumarra Cos.

GLOBALG.A.P. national technical working groups provide opportunities for producers, retailers, certification bodies, food safety and sustainability experts, and other stakeholders to support the GLOBALG.A.P. certification system.

The U.S. NTWG ensures audit efficiency, compliance accuracy and the local relevance of GLOBALG.A.P. farm assurance solutions. A major focus area is supporting the adaptation of GLOBALG.A.P. standards in a U.S. context through the development of national interpretation guidelines. These guidelines align GLOBALG.A.P. requirements with local regulations and structural conditions in the United States, helping producers and certification bodies implement and audit GLOBALG.A.P. standards.

Solorio has played a pivotal role in Bonipak’s engagement with GLOBALG.A.P. Under her leadership, the company has managed GLOBALG.A.P. certifications across thousands of acres, demonstrating commitments to food safety, traceability, environmental responsibility and workers’ well-being. With extensive experience in ensuring compliance with food-safety regulations and managing quality assurance, Solorio brings both technical expertise and leadership commitment to the role.

“My aim is to guide and channel the contributions of this incredibly talented and diverse working group to enhance national guidelines, expand on producer guidance, and foster a resilient, compliant and quality-driven agriculture sector,” said Solorio. “Together we will bridge global standards with U.S. farming practices and markets.”

Ram led the NTWG for over a decade – steering contributions to the development of multiple versions of the flagship GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance standard, the GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice add-on, the Produce Handling Assurance standard and the integration of the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule add-on into the GLOBALG.A.P. framework. Solorio will lead the NTWG’s ongoing work on these standards as well as GLOBALG.A.P. standards under development covering social and environmental topics.

“Marianna’s appointment reflects the confidence Bonipak has in her thoughtful, steady leadership,” said Ryan Reed, executive vice president and general counsel of Bonipak. “She brings exceptional organizational discipline, a grounded and practical approach to problem‑solving and a genuine commitment to developing the people around her. These qualities have strengthened Bonipak’s food‑safety programs, and will serve the National Technical Working Group well.”

"We are delighted for Marianna to step into this leadership role for the U.S. NTWG after having actively engaged with us for many years,” said Roberta Anderson, president of GLOBALG.A.P. North America. “She takes the reins at an important time when GLOBALG.A.P. assurance solutions are embracing more environmental and social responsibility topics in addition to food safety — supporting our changing industry with streamlined and farmer-focused solutions.”