Carl Northam grew up in Shafter, CA, in the 1940s and 50s in the heart of the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, so it seemed only natural to look for a job on a ranch when he was first seeking employment in his late teens. In 1960, Northam did, in fact, secure what he calls a “gopher” position with nearby Vignolo Farms. At the time, Vignolo Farms was a row crop operation growing alfalfa, cotton, wheat and beans. “The founder, C.J. (Ted) Vignolo, was a personable fellow so I stayed around,” said Northam. In those early years, Northam didn’t think much beyond the next day so he didn’t

Most people are lucky to find one great job, let alone two. Yet that descriptor defines the more than 40 years Roger Pepperl patrolled the produce sector, leaving his mark on both the buying and selling of fresh produce. His career was split in half between Michigan and Washington and between retailer Meijer and fruit producer Stemilt. The common thread for Pepperl was that both jobs involved marketing, which he said is in the wheelhouse of his skill set. In fact, it was his marketing of cherries at the retail end that led to his position as a supply side marketer. Though he was born in

Vanguard International has expanded their global sales team with the hiring of Ana Yanez in the role of sales associate. Yanez will work out of the Vanguard International offices in Visalia, CA, and will be responsible for sales into Latin America and servicing customers in that market. “Vanguard’s exceptional global sourcing is a strength I am looking forward to bringing to our customers in the Latin American market, and I could not be more excited to join the Vanguard team,” shared Ana Yanez. Yanez brings over six years of experience in the produce sales industry managing key accounts with a

Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc., a global blueberry breeding and nursery company, has announced that Tom Blaser has joined its professional board of directors. Most recently, Blaser served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of W.R. Grace, a $2.2-billion global specialty chemical company. His appointment brings the Fall Creek board to nine individuals. Prior to W. R. Grace, Blaser held multiple leadership roles in strategic, operational, and financial management, including serving as president of the North American business unit of Arysta LifeScience Corporation, a $1.6

Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (Arizona LGMA) is pleased to welcome Kevin Watson as its new LGMA compliance officer. In this role he will help to implement the program’s comprehensive, science-based, food safety standards. Watson joins Arizona LGMA in time for its winter harvest season and brings more than 20 years of experience to the position. As a compliance officer he will review all onsite farm audits conducted as part of the Arizona LGMA programs. Audits are used to ensure that handlers of leafy greens are using the safest possible farming practices and that its members remain

Sun World International LLC, a leading variety development and licensing company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Simpson as Executive Vice President/Intellectual Property. Simpson, formerly a partner with Sun World’s U.S.-based IP law firm, has been involved in developing Sun World’s licensing business as well as its IP Portfolio for the past 35 years. He holds a degree in BSc Chemistry at Salford University, Manchester, England, a Juris Doctorate at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and was admitted to the Californian Bar. Simpson will be responsible for further growing Sun