Just 21 years old and barely into college, Debbie Willmann started at Index Fresh Oct. 21, 1990, as an accounting temp with plans of pursuing a career as a CPA. Fast forward 30 years, and Willmann is now the director of sales and a key team member at Index Fresh, a leading California-based avocado company. From accounts payable to receivables to an office manager for the accounting department, and then onward to sales, Willmann learned the ropes every step of the way. “Selling produce was not on my radar when I started, even though it’s so big in California. I fell into the right place at the

As the new sales director at Mission Produce, Brooke Becker is responsible for managing outside purchases and utilization of product. Her responsibilities include analyzing volume trends that impact North American retail, wholesale, and foodservice businesses, and guiding domestic sales staff on price and market conditions. “Brooke is a strong sales professional and has become a leader at Mission,” said Stephen Fink, vice president of North American sales. “In her tenure, she has contributed to efforts that have resulted in the growth of retail and wholesale business. Brooke is dedicated to

Avocados From Mexico is launching a campaign kickoff with sportscasters Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews to inspire shoppers to take their love of game day guac to the next level. AFM's first-ever in-store celebrity shopper engagement program is available to all grocery retailers and features free POS merchandising solutions — starring Aikman and Andrews — and a QR code contest for AFM fans to have a chance to win $1 million and other cash prizes. Retailers are encouraged to sign up by Nov. 13 to receive all campaign collateral – for free – to bring the AFM program to their customers. Consumers

Oppy has recently acquired a 65 percent stake in Eco Farms, a leading avocado grower since 1972 and one of the first to grow and market organic avocados in the U.S. The move is the latest in a series of acquisitions and strategies aimed at strengthening Oppy’s key role as a premier grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce from around the world. Oppy and Eco Farms’ 360-degree capabilities in the category have combined to create a new avocado tour de force from farm to shelf. The companies will bring to market a new, holistic avocado offering that includes growing and importing premium

By every measure, 2020 has been a very challenging year so far, but the avocado is emerging relatively unscathed, seemingly deserving of the descriptor that it is “pandemic proof.” That was the description used by Xavier Equihua, chief executive officer and president of the Peruvian Avocado Commission. “There was a lot of uncertainty with the pandemic, but avocados proved they are pandemic proof,” he said of their performance this year. “No other produce item has the versatility, flavor, health benefits and sex appeal of the avocado, making them the star of the produce aisle. They have become

On Thursday, Oct. 1, Oxnard, CA-based Mission Produce Inc. began its journey as a public company with the initial public offering of 8 million share of its common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol AVO. The IPO opened at $12 and closed on its first day at $13.80, an initial one-day gain of 15 percent. Mission Produce Chief Operating Officer Mike Browne called it an “exciting day” for the company and a logical step to take the organization to the next level. Mission Produce self-identifies as the largest distributor of avocados in the world with its 2019 volume of 559 million