Michael Kamphaus, who has served as the president and CEO of Peirone Produce Co. for the past nine years, will retire this fall. Under his stewardship, since June of 2014, Peirone has continued to prosper and has grown into one of the largest distributors of fresh fruits and vegetables to independent grocers in the Inland Northwest.

Ian LeMay, president of the California Fresh Fruit Association, will become president and CEO of the California Table Grape Commission in the spring of 2025.

LeMay will succeed Kathleen Nave, who has served in the lead staff role since January 1999 when she succeeded Bruce Obbink. Nave joined the commission in 1987 and plans to retire in the spring of 2025. LeMay will join the commission staff as incoming president once he finds and successfully transitions his successor.

The SF Market, home to 26 independent merchant businesses, has reached a historic milestone in recovering and donating 7 million pounds of nutritious, quality surplus produce since the program began in 2016.

The International Fresh Produce Association gathered over 250 industry leaders and volunteers at the Spring Policy & Regulatory Forum hosted in Washington, DC. The event brings together industry volunteers to discuss issues important to the industry. The IFPA board of directors held a meeting in conjunction with this event. After a series of committee and council meetings and education sessions, volunteers march on the Hill to meet with elected officials, members of the Administration and Embassy professionals.  

California cherry season has a noteworthy early opening at Meena Farms, a Merced County-based operation. Chris Medeiros, general manager, is quick to credit all the hard work, investment and sweat equity that goes into producing cherries at a high-level, and also explained that sometimes it simply comes down to where you are located.

Ocean Mist Farms, a leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in North America, launched its annual spring promotion conveying the health and nutrition benefits and accolades of its famous Gold Standard artichokes. The Gold Standard Giveaway will run through June 1, giving participants the opportunity to win one Grand Prize VISA gift card valued at $1,000 or one of five VISA gift cards valued at $100.