<p>Los Angeles, California-based Valley Fruit & Produce is welcoming some changes to the family. Jin Ju Wilder has been hired as the company’s Director of Marketing and Rick Paino has been promoted to Sales Manager. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Wilder's role is a new position for the company. She brings 20 years of produce industry experience to her position and will be involved in the planning, development, and implementation of Valley’s marketing strategies, external and internal communications, and public relations activities. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/valley0801213body.jpg" alt="081213img" />“I was very fortunate to work with Valley as a consultant over the last 3 years. I am excited to work with a company that handles so much volume and has a very diverse customer base. When Carrie and Doug presented me with an opportunity to participate in and have an impact on so many market channels, I couldn’t wait to get started,” Wilder stated.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Carrie La Londe, CFO at Valley Fruit & Produce, reflected, “Having Jin Ju as part of the Valley team strengthens our ability to provide our customers with highly customized and strategic solution packages. Today, Valley is more than a produce wholesaler; we are responsible for our customers’ produce supply chain needs from the fields to the consumers’ forks.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>In Paino's new position as Sales Manager at Valley, the industry veteran will ensure the Valley sales team is aware of the Company’s goals, while working with the sales team to create strategies for accomplishing them, according to a press release. Rick will also continue as the commodity manager for the apple and pear division at Valley.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Paino, stated, “It’s a challenge to balance providing our customers with highly competitive pricing paired with guaranteed quality and service while also making sure that we provide consistent and fair returns to our vendors. It’s a challenge I am up to and I am eager to share my knowledge and experience with the sales team.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Rick then joined Valley Fruit in 1986. Doug La Londe, COO at Valley Fruit & Produce, said, “What Rick brings to the role of Sales Manager is a great combination of extensive produce selling and buying experience, a passion for produce, pride in being a part of Valley, and a strong desire to share all of that with the rest of the sales team. Under Rick’s guidance, we look forward to continuing our tradition of providing great quality produce and service to our customers every day.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Congrats to Valley Fruit on your growing family!</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.valleyproduce.com/retail.php " target="_new"> Valley Fruit & Produce </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
