On Jan.14, Vision Import Group headquartered in Hackensack, NJ, announced the hiring of Steve Hitchings as the company’s new general manager in its Southeast, Lakeland, FL office. He began his new position on Jan. 5.

Hitchings has more than 34 years of procurement and sales experience in produce. Most recently, he was part of the procurement and sales team for Paradise Produce Distributing. Prior to that, he held a vice president position with Maines Paper & Food Service Inc, headquartered in Conklin, NY.

He was also the owner of Mangoes Plus located at Hunts Point, in the Bronx, NY.

Hitchings will work under the direction of Vision Import Group’s Vice President of Sales and Co. Partner, Ronnie Cohen.

“We welcome Stephen to the Vision team and look forward to him adding his many years of experience to increase our company’s profile while expanding the market share in the Southeast as well the national market,” said Cohen.

“I am excited about the opportunity to add value to Vision Import Group and its accelerating operation,” Hitchings noted. “I look forward to contributing to the expansion of Vision’s strategic produce sourcing, logistic capabilities and its organizational foundation.

“Being based in the Lakeland, FL, office gives me many opportunities to contribute in a major avenue of growth for the company,” he added.

Cohen said the company is looking forward to exhibiting at the 2015 Southern Exposure Conference & Expo, being held at the Caribe Royale All Suite Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, FL, on Feb. 26-28.

“The Vision Group will exhibit at Booth No. 700,” he said. “On hand to greet customers and prospective customers will be Raul Millan, executive vice president; George Uribe, sales manager, New Jersey; Allan Napolitano, sales representative, New Jersey; Steve Hitchings, Bruce Letchworth and Lindsay Love, sales representatives, Florida; and myself.”

Vision has been a member of SEPC for two years, and has exhibited at Southern Exposure both years. Cohen noted that the company will debut a brand new tradeshow booth at the event.

“This is an exceptional show that provides an outstanding opportunity for our Florida staff to connect with regional directors and buyers,” he said. “We will participate in the extracurricular events, including the Tom Page Golf Classic. Vision is also one of the sponsors of the Opening Night Gala Party.”

The Vision Cos. co-owns Vision Import Group and Vision Produce Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, of which Bill Vogel is president of both.

Besides its Lakeland facility, Vision Import Group maintains an office in Pharr, TX, which is used for quality control and distribution. It shares unified national distribution and marketing with Vision Produce Co.

Both companies market “Van Gogh” brand mangos, as well as “Mojito,” “Havana” and “Mr. Squeeze” lime labels.Vision Produce Co. also distributes limes under the “Bonito,” “Logger” and “Tropic Star” brands in the Western U.S.