Articles by Lydia Johnson

Michael Papaleo has transitioned from executive vice president and chief procurement officer to strategic advisor for the coming year at C&S Wholesale Grocers. Mark McGowan was promoted to lead C&S’s merchandising organization and Andrew Connell was promoted to lead procurement, demand planning and inbound planning.

Valley Milk added Ron O’Brien to staff as a commodity risk management advisor. Fresh Taste Produce CEO Sal Sarraino died on Sept. 24. 

Category Five Hurricane Milton, which is set to make landfall in Florida late Wednesday or early Thursday, could be the “worst storm to hit Florida in over a century,” according to President Joe Biden. It comes at a difficult time for residents of the southeastern U.S., who are still grappling with the major agriculture and infrastructure damages caused by Hurricane Helene. 

Working Lands for Wildlife tapped Tanner Swank as great plains grasslands biome manager. Family Farm Alliance executive director Dan Keppen will step down from the position at the organization’s annual meeting in October 2025.

Sarah Gonzalez departed from her role at the National Grain and Feed Association to lead communications and public affairs at the International Fresh Produce Association. The National Pork Producers Council added Jake Sterle to staff as director of industry resource development. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise promoted Leah McPhearson to legislative assistant to cover agriculture, food and animal portfolio areas. 

USDA and the White House will host selected farm groups for meetings today with government officials to discuss the Biden administration’s key ag and rural investments. 

East Coast dockworkers agreed to end their two-day strike after coming to a “tentative agreement on wages” with the United States Maritime Alliance, the International Longshoremen’s Association and USMX said in a joint statement Thursday. 

JD Vance used Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate to defend Donald Trump’s tariff proposals. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz touted Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s “opportunity economy.”

Jennifer Lind joined Church Brothers Farms as director of business intelligence and analytics. Rice Fruit promoted Alexandra Roberts to vice president of culture and compliance.  

The New England Produce Council announced new leadership positions: David Dearborn, Jodie Reardon, Scott Maher, and Lynn Perry. 

Georgia, the Carolinas and eastern Tennessee are facing severe damage from category four Hurricane Helene that made landfall in Florida’s panhandle Thursday flattening crops, destroying infrastructure and taking over 130 lives in the storm’s destructive path. 

Jake Li, who has led EPA’s efforts to comply with the Endangered Species Act, is moving to the Fish and Wildlife Service where he will take a lead role on endangered species conservation. NASDA elected new leadership at the group’s annual meeting in Indianapolis, including tapping Arkansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward as the 2024-2025 president. 

Illinois farmer Kenny Hartman assumed the role of NCGA president on Oct. 1. Whit Fosburgh joined the National Fish and Wildlife as chief development officer. Patty Cormier was elected president of the National Association of State Foresters. 

Parts of Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee are experiencing devastating crop and farm damage from Hurricane Helene, which touched land on Florida’s panhandle Thursday.