Retailers and exhibitors connect at FPFC Expo
May 2, 2023
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its annual FPFC Expo, Cultivating a Healthy Future, on Thursday, April 27. The morning began with breakfast, awards and recognitions recapping the year that was, concluding with an inspiring message from keynote speaker Sarah Thomas, the first female referee to break into NFL. Afterward the show opened with a whole host of retailers and exhibitors in attendance.
Mark Salahi of Albertsons and Cindy Schwing of Splendid by Porvenir.
Andrea Gonzalez and Suzette Overgaag of North Shore Living.
Brandon Parker of Shuman Farms and Andrea Wiggins of Healthy Family Project.
Erika Descoust, Erin Wagner and Ryan Birdsall of Wonderful.
Mark Smith, James Galindo and Jose Mendoza of Oppy with Jeff Davis of ECO Farms.
Robb Bertels, Crystal Chavez and Terry Kuhel of Gold Coast Packing.
Jennifer Anazawa, Rigo Garcia, Scott Fraser and Galen Johnson of Mission Produce Inc.
Hugo Acevedo and Jeremiah Hunsaker of Mucci Farms.
Brian Bartlett of Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice and Katharine Hawkins of Good Sense.
Evan Pybas and Steve Adlesh of Beachside Produce LLC.
Victor Rodarte, Amanda Gerondale and Sean Barganski of Progressive Produce.
Letty Casillas and Yasmin Garcia of Gills Onions.
Cassie White, David Doggett and Jessica Gagel of organicgirl.
Jeff Nichol, Dan Garcia and Brady Markel of Pacific Trellis Fruit.
Mike York, Sandra Aguilera and Gabriel Soltero of Calavo.
Derek Sass of Talley Farms.
Fatima Moussawi, John Kang, Bob Tillemans and Raquel Reed of Zespri.
Katherine McMahon of Brighter Bites.
Alexandra Rae Molumby and Bailey Slayton of Bako Sweet.
Jeff Gilin, Katie Schumacher and Daniel Russell of Gimmway Farms/Cal-Organic Farms.
Mason Perrotta, Hope Barbee and Corey Torczon of Double Date Packing.
Hector Aguilera and Laurent Gabrielli of Heath & Lejeune.
Matt Modena and Claire Vasquez of Windset Farms.
Morgan Lerner and Anne Slabotsky of GoNanas.
Dustin Bridgewater of Pairwise.
Bryan Garibay, Mike Minjares and Carlos Casillas of Dayak & Hackett.
Helen Vinh and Jonas Hanna of South 40 Snacks.
Mareya Ibrahim and Karolina Strom of Eat Cleaner.
Ryan Sanchez of Albertsons with keynote breakfast speaker Sarah Thomas.
The Best of Show Produce Winner, Melissa’s, was represented by John Luevanos, Carlos Preciado, Julie Talancon, Danelle Zapien, Kyle Petersen and Orlando Lopez, who are seen with FPFC President Don Gann.
The Best of Show Floral Winner, Mountain View Nursery, was represented by John Debruyn , Dawnyel Debruyn and Jake Debruyn, who are seen with FPFC President Don Gann.
Kirk Wilson of Giorgio and Joseph Cowle of B&C Fresh Sales.
Velvet Arrivas, Gabriel Soltero and Sandra Aguilera of Calavo.
Ross Johnson and Kent Beesley of the Idaho Potato Commission.
Victoria Kovacevich, Conner Melancon and Desirae Pérez of Prime Time International.
Angelic Meza and Lisa Davis Corrigan of Church Bros.
Priscilla Medez of GreenFruit Avocados, Tim Graves of Sunrise Produce, Andrew Gomez and Dan Acevedo of GreenFruit Avocados, Sally Pérez of Sunrise Produce, and Jonovan Acosta and Jair Magallan of GreenFruit Avocados.
Alejandro Duran and Erick Coronado of Avocados From Mexico.
Zack Ruiz and Andrew Bivens of Westlake Produce.
Brian Bullman, Jennie Lyle, Troy LeCheminant and Bill Brooks of Westlake Produce.
Martin Chen, Maribel Davila and Max Dickstein of ReadyPac.
Charles Harrison, Martha Montoya and Juanita Gaglio of AgTools Inc.
Johan Soltero, Jessica Luna and Ivan Matsumori of Pablo’s Produce Inc.
Briana Giampoli, Bonny Iten and Prescott Leyba of Live Oak Farms.
Bob VanDine, Olga Osthus and Candice Stansfield of Perricone Juice Co.
Aaron LaPlante and Gabe Dupin of Harmless Harvest.
John Pandol and Mike Renz of Pandol Bros. Inc.
Ryan Klapp of Epic Sales and Mike Bellingham of Epicurean Butter.
Charles Marusich and Joseph Filia of Sun Pacific Produce.
Mike Dittenber and Jason Smalley Jr. of Warren Packaging Inc.
Jeff Hansen and Alan Asbury of Bard Valley Date Growers.
David Schoonmaker, Kyle Hammans, Jessica Swanson and Anjali Bonfante of Bolthouse.
Rodi Groot, Amy Carrerri and Bill Prescott of Sun Valley Floral Farms.
Susie Rea of IndexFresh, Kent Beesley of the Idaho Potato Commission and Shonna Williams of Cardenas Markets.
Robby Cruz of Target with Juan Carlos, Bob Echter and Todd Ingham of Dramm Echter Farms.
Blake Lee of DLJ Produce, Peter Steinbrick of Own and Pat Posey of WAFC.
FPFC Board members Jacob Cadwallader of Stater Bros. Markets and Kori Martin of Oppy with panel host Todd Linsky of Todd-versations Podcast.
Barbara Hochman of IFPA with Marty Craner of B&C Fresh Sales.
Jon Holder (center) of Superior Grocers with Ross Johnson and Kent Beesley of the Idaho Potato Commission.
FPFC Chairman Michael Schutt of Raley’s with FPFC President Don Gann, keynote breakfast speaker Sarah Thomas, and Ross Johnson and Kent Beesley of the Idaho Potato Commission.
Tracy Ramirez, the 2007 Floral Achievement winner, presenting the 2023 winner, Erin Caird of Por La Mar Nursery.
2022 Norman H. (Buz) Bolstad Award Winner Bill Brooks of Westlake Produce Co. congratulating 2023 Award Winner Marvin Quebec of Quebec Distributing Co.
2023 Norman H. (Buz) Bolstad Award Winner Marvin Quebec of Quebec Distributing.
The keynote breakfast retail panel: Moderator Todd Linsky of Todd-Versations Podcast joined by Daniel Bell of Grocery Outlet, Jacob Cadwallader of Stater Bros. Markets and Jon Holder of Superior Grocers.
Keynote breakfast speaker Sarah Thomas, the NFL’s first female official.
