Apeel announced the hiring of Jim Smits as vice president of retail advisory, a new role designed to align Apeel’s solutions with the needs of retail grocery executives in operations, merchandising, marketing and fresh produce. In addition, Apeel CEO James Rogers has been appointed technology council chair for the newly formed International Fresh Produce Association, which is poised to become one of the most influential produce governing organizations in the world.

FullTilt Marketing, a firm focused on agriculture, fresh produce and specialty food industries recently expanded the team welcoming Kari Fox as the new creative director and Dan Kaho as senior project manager.

John McClung, who retired a decade ago as the president and CEO of the Texas Produce Association, spent a career in the produce industry with stops at the USDA and the United Fresh Produce Association. But he began his working life as a reporter, was an accomplished bird watcher, bed & breakfast hotelier and woodworker, and spent much of his career mentoring and helping others in his signature collaborative way.

The award-winning documentary “The Last Harvest” released for free exclusively on Vimeo for a timely Thanksgiving message of appreciation and acknowledgment of the challenges facing those who grow and harvest our food. The documentary is now available for viewing by visiting www.vimeo.com/thelastharvest/film.

Chris Jevne, senior sourcing manager for Walmart Stores Inc. and a longtime member of the potato industry, died suddenly Friday, Nov. 19. He was 54.

This year, in an effort to address both the extraordinary opportunities and the extraordinary challenges the industry faces, the Hass Avocado Board, with industry participation, launched BOLD: The Hass Avocado Industry Board Leadership Development Program. Helping the industry face an increasingly complex marketplace with sophisticated problem-solvers, BOLD is designed to develop emerging leaders who are both motivated and equipped to meet those opportunities and challenges.