During the “Recognizing the Best Part of PMA” Virtual Town Hall held Oct. 27, Produce Marketing Association and Center for Growing Talent announced and honored the winners of the suite of awards recognizing excellence across the industry. The awards recognize work of industry volunteers across the industry who transform, innovate, collaborate, and lead all those they encounter towards growing a healthier world.

John D’Arrigo, president, CEO and chairman of the Board for D’Arrigo California has been honored by the University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as an influential visionary and agricultural leader. John was bestowed the prestigious Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership in the agricultural industry, his service to the community and contributions to the University of Arizona’s, Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture. 

Verdant Technologies announces the addition of produce industry veteran Harlan Ewert to the position of sales-director west, effective immediately.

Each year the nation honors military veterans who dedicated their lives to protecting the United States. After serving, veterans find their way into everyday life, often working jobs that serve Americans in different ways, such as in the produce industry. This year The Produce News recognizes those who served our nation and the produce industry with a special Veterans edition of our Sighting Salutes series.

A well-known veteran of the produce industry has joined the team at Mastronardi Produce to help support its recently expanded western business operations. The company has announced that JC Myers has joined as senior director of West Coast operations.

“We’re excited about the addition of JC to our team,” said Paul Mastronardi, president and CEO at Mastronardi Produce. “He is a proven industry leader who understands fresh produce retail markets and is passionate about quality and customer service — a great fit for our company and this role.”

Live Oak Farms has added Bonny (Choate) Iten to its sales staff. Iten will be working out of its home location in Le Grand, CA, leading Live Oak's business development effort throughout the Bell pepper category.  Her umbrella of responsibilities will cover conventional Bell pepper sales for the company, and the organic Bell pepper program Live Oak started in 2019.