Stemilt Growers bolsters organic sales team with versatile veteran
Stemilt Growers bolsters organic sales team with versatile veteran
WENATCHEE, WA -- Stemilt Growers Inc. has announced the addition of organic produce industry veteran Nancy Dudney to its fruit sales team.
Ms. Dudney has extensive experience in many facets of organic produce marketing, from selling to retailers and wholesalers to selling product through farmers market-style outlets. Most recently, she was the sales and marketing director for King Blossom Natural Orchards, a Brewster, WA-based organic orchard company with a Wenatchee-based sales office that produces approximately 100,000 boxes of organic apples each year.
Ms. Dudney developed King Blossom Natural Marketing LLC over the last four years. At first she sold the company's fruit exclusively. Then two years ago she also developed a separate organic sales business, allowing her to sell both for King Blossom Natural orchards and for other organic fruit growers. Ms. Dudney's company, King Organic Sales LLC, sold about 250,000 cartons of organic fruit.
Prior to working for King Blossom Natural, Ms. Dudney worked for Valley Farms in Willcox, AZ, where she also developed a sales and marketing program from the ground up. She was with Valley Farms for four years, selling organic cherries and apples.
While Ms. Dudney has excelled in the field of commercial organic sales in recent years, much of her commitment to organic marketing and production developed over the years from her hands-on experience in the organic industry. She opened her first produce market, the Quality Fruit Stop, in 1984 in Conroe, TX, a resort town where her organic produce was popular among tourists and locals. She operated the market for four years.
In the late 1980s, Ms. Dudney moved to Tucson, AZ, where she revamped a convenience store, renamed it Quality Fresh Farmers Markets and created a spot where local farmers could sell their organic produce from "the back of their trucks." Whatever the local farmers couldn't sell, she bought as organic inventory for her store, selling wholesale to restaurants and retail to area residents.
By 1990, Ms. Dudney began setting up farmers market-style canopies in different spots throughout Tucson. Local organic fruits and vegetables were sold from the roadside stops, which all operated under the Quality Fresh Farmers Markets banner. At the height of her business, she had 13 canopies throughout the city. In 1994, she sold the business to Tucson Fruit & Produce.
Ms. Dudney said that she has always had an interest in family farming and quality organic food. She was born and raised on a dairy farm, but her family ran into financial challenges when she was a teenager, and the family was forced to leave the dairy business.
Ms. Dudney is very aware of the need to bring in profits sufficient to keep farms viable and growing. She said that Stemilt's goal to generate "returns to the land was primary in her decision to join the company.
In addition, Ms. Dudney believes that "good, nutritious food is at the core of good health. She believes that marketing organic produce is her way to personally help society by encouraging consumption and availability of healthy foods, and in turn her efforts will also help sustain family farms.
"I think I can make a difference for future generations, but I can't do it on my own, she said. "I believe that Stemilt has the resources and the desire to invest in organics in a way that will stabilize the future of the family farm.
Matthew Jarmin, head of Stemilt's organic sales group, said that Ms. Dudney's "enthusiasm and knowledge of the organic marketplace will be a nice addition to our organic team.
Ms. Dudney said she has "tons of energy, and her new position at Stemilt is the "perfect icing on her life. She started work at Stemilt June 6 at the company's main office in Wenatchee.
Ms. Dudney has extensive experience in many facets of organic produce marketing, from selling to retailers and wholesalers to selling product through farmers market-style outlets. Most recently, she was the sales and marketing director for King Blossom Natural Orchards, a Brewster, WA-based organic orchard company with a Wenatchee-based sales office that produces approximately 100,000 boxes of organic apples each year.
Ms. Dudney developed King Blossom Natural Marketing LLC over the last four years. At first she sold the company's fruit exclusively. Then two years ago she also developed a separate organic sales business, allowing her to sell both for King Blossom Natural orchards and for other organic fruit growers. Ms. Dudney's company, King Organic Sales LLC, sold about 250,000 cartons of organic fruit.
Prior to working for King Blossom Natural, Ms. Dudney worked for Valley Farms in Willcox, AZ, where she also developed a sales and marketing program from the ground up. She was with Valley Farms for four years, selling organic cherries and apples.
While Ms. Dudney has excelled in the field of commercial organic sales in recent years, much of her commitment to organic marketing and production developed over the years from her hands-on experience in the organic industry. She opened her first produce market, the Quality Fruit Stop, in 1984 in Conroe, TX, a resort town where her organic produce was popular among tourists and locals. She operated the market for four years.
In the late 1980s, Ms. Dudney moved to Tucson, AZ, where she revamped a convenience store, renamed it Quality Fresh Farmers Markets and created a spot where local farmers could sell their organic produce from "the back of their trucks." Whatever the local farmers couldn't sell, she bought as organic inventory for her store, selling wholesale to restaurants and retail to area residents.
By 1990, Ms. Dudney began setting up farmers market-style canopies in different spots throughout Tucson. Local organic fruits and vegetables were sold from the roadside stops, which all operated under the Quality Fresh Farmers Markets banner. At the height of her business, she had 13 canopies throughout the city. In 1994, she sold the business to Tucson Fruit & Produce.
Ms. Dudney said that she has always had an interest in family farming and quality organic food. She was born and raised on a dairy farm, but her family ran into financial challenges when she was a teenager, and the family was forced to leave the dairy business.
Ms. Dudney is very aware of the need to bring in profits sufficient to keep farms viable and growing. She said that Stemilt's goal to generate "returns to the land was primary in her decision to join the company.
In addition, Ms. Dudney believes that "good, nutritious food is at the core of good health. She believes that marketing organic produce is her way to personally help society by encouraging consumption and availability of healthy foods, and in turn her efforts will also help sustain family farms.
"I think I can make a difference for future generations, but I can't do it on my own, she said. "I believe that Stemilt has the resources and the desire to invest in organics in a way that will stabilize the future of the family farm.
Matthew Jarmin, head of Stemilt's organic sales group, said that Ms. Dudney's "enthusiasm and knowledge of the organic marketplace will be a nice addition to our organic team.
Ms. Dudney said she has "tons of energy, and her new position at Stemilt is the "perfect icing on her life. She started work at Stemilt June 6 at the company's main office in Wenatchee.
