Monterey Mushrooms has hired Andrea Smith as the new director of sales for the western region, managing territories supported by California and Texas farms. Bringing more than 27 years of experience to the position, Smith most recently served as a sales director for Calavo Growers and Renaissance Food Group.
Brian Hunt is the new senior vice president of ag operations at Church Brothers. Hunt has been with Church Brothers since 2014 in the ag operations division and has also been a managing partner at C&H Farms. He brings over 20 years of experience to the role, and previously in his career worked at Tanimura & Antle.
Brian Hunt, Church BrothersCalavo Growers brought on Andy Foster as vice president of sales for national accounts. Bringing more than 25 years of experience to the post, Foster has previously worked at Taylor Farms and Boskovich Farms.
Potandon Produce is bringing on Dave Allen as the new senior director of sales on the russets and onions sales team. Allen previously worked at FreshPoint as the director of corporate sales. Before that, he was with Produce Alliance.
Brian Sikes has been tapped to lead Cargill as its new president and chief executive officer at the beginning of the year. Sikes will replace Dave MacLennan, who will become the executive chair of the board. Sikes has been with the company for 31 years and currently serves as Cargill’s chief operating officer. He has held various leadership roles in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and has previously served as the head of the company’s talent center of expertise.
Dale Nellor now serves as the executive vice president of the National Water Resources Association. He comes to NWRA from the North American Millers’ Association, where he served as the vice president of government and technical affairs.
The Environmental Protection Agency has appointed 20 new members to the agency's Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. They will join 17 existing members of the committee to help provide policy advice, information, and recommendations on environmental issues important to agriculture and rural communities. Beth Sauerhaft from American Farmland Trust and new member Dr. Raymon Shange from Tuskegee University will lead FRRCC as committee chair and vice chair, respectively. The new members are Brad Bray, Bray Farms; Eddie Crandell Sr., Lake County, California, supervisor; Jennifer James, J&J Land Co. and Auvergne Grain Co.; Sarah Lucas, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Jeanne Merrill, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; Clay Pope, Pope Hilltop Farm and the National Association of Wheat Growers; James Pritchett, Colorado State University; Nithya Rajan, Texas A&M University; Lindsay Reames, Virginia and Maryland Milk Producers Cooperative Association; Jennifer Simmelink, Kansas Soil Health Alliance; Chantel Simpson, North Carolina A&T State University; and Ryan Smith, Danone North America.
Interested in more coverage and insights? Receive a free month of Agri-Pulse!
Clean Fuels Alliance America has elected new governing board leaders and leadership. Mike Rath has been appointed to serve as chair, Rob Shaffer will be vice chair, and Gary Louis is going to be the second vice chair. Ryan Pederson is the board's new treasurer, Paul Teta was elected as secretary, and Kent Engelbrecht will assume the role of past chair. Newly elected to the board and serving a two-year term includes: Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board; Tim Keaveney, HERO BX; Courtney Lawrenson, Ag Processing Inc.; Gary Louis, Seaboard Energy; Tim Ostrem, South Dakota Soybean Checkoff; Mike Rath, Darling Ingredients; Rob Shaffer, American Soybean Association; and Paul Teta, Kolmar Americas Inc.
The National Fisheries Institute is mourning the loss of its president and CEO John Connelly, who passed away. Connelly was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, in March 2022. He served at the helm of NFI for nearly 20 years. NFI will have a celebration of life on Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Global Seafood Market Conference at the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, California. NFI will also announce funeral plans when they are made available.
Thomas Tjerandsen, an international produce marketer, died on Nov. 8 at the age of 80. Tjerandsen was a founding member of the Pomegranate Council and has served as its executive director since its inception in 1997. He also served on the California Agricultural Export Council.
For more news, go to www.agri-pulse.com.
