Publix Super Markets announced the death of Carol Jenkins Barnett, former chair and president of Publix Super Markets Charities, and daughter of the company's founder, George W. Jenkins. She died Dec. 7 in her home surrounded by family. In 2016, she was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Nature Fresh Farms Director of Business Development Ray Wowryk is the recipient of this year’s Ontario Produce Marketing Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is given to an individual that has over many years demonstrated untiring efforts to improve the quality and distribution of fruits and vegetables marketed within or outside the province of Ontario through innovation, cooperation and hard work.

In anticipation of the acquisition of Bashas’ Family of Stores later this month, Raley’s has announced that Laura Croff has been promoted to chief human resources officer of The Raley’s Cos., a newly formed enterprise that will oversee the organization’s independent operating divisions.

BrightFarms, a leading national player in growing indoor leafy greens, announced that Abby Prior has been promoted within the company to chief commercial officer. She will spearhead the newly formed commercial team, a convergence of the company's sales and marketing groups. The new structure will allow BrightFarms to grow rapidly over the next five years, expanding growing capacity tenfold to reach two-thirds of the U.S.

Ocean Mist Farms, a leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., hired Jeff Hutterer as director of value-added sales and Christa Schuck as sales representative.

As director of value-added sales, Hutterer will be responsible for developing value-added business for Ocean Mist Farms. Prior to accepting the position, Hutterer served as director of retail sales at Mann Packing. He earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN.

Adding to its roster of technology and industry experts, Stout Industrial Technology announced that Brent Shedd has been appointed as the CEO of the industrial solutions and artificial intelligence company. A serial founder and CEO of startups in the AI and autonomous vehicle industries, Shedd will work alongside the Stout team on both product and market expansion.