CORONA, CA - To keep up with both growing demand for organics and doubled Crystal Cove Strawberries sales growth, Veg-Fresh Farms is welcoming two industry veterans to its team. Dan Kerrigan, with melon growers Joe Del Bosque of Delbosque Farms and Berj Moosekian of Azhedarian, V.H., & Co., Inc. in tow, will be joining the Good Life Organic Melon program. Ray Iwamoto will be joining the Crystal Cove Berry department.
Kerrigan, who has split his time for 23 years working summers for Turlock Fruit Co. Inc. and 20 winters with Bay Area Produce Inc., is expected to continue his relationship with Bay Area Produce as he helps to expand the Veg-Fresh Organic melon program. Organic melons in combination with conventional Three Star Brand cantaloupe will ship starting June through October, according to a press release.
"The demand for the Good Life Organic program, Delbosque, and Three Star Organic melons is growing rapidly and we feel fortunate to have talent like industry veteran Kerrigan working closely with Anthony Innocenti and the Good Life Organic team,” said Dino Cancellieri Jr., Partner at Veg Fresh Farms. "The addition of top notch growers like Joe Del Bosque and Azhederian Farms strengthens our offering and supports our vision of having one of the premier organic programs in the nation."
Ray Iwamoto was also recruited by Veg-Fresh following a year of Crystal Cove Strawberries doubling its sales. Steve Circle, the company’s current Director of Sales for Berries, worked with Iwamoto when he was a District Manager at Sunrise Growers, saying he would be a perfect fit for the team.
“Ray and I worked together for eight years, and I knew at the rate we were growing, it wouldn’t be long before I would come knocking to bring him aboard,” Circle added. “Ray has extensive knowledge in production, field conditions, grower relationships and sales, he’ll be a huge asset for Crystal Cove Berry Farms.”
Randy Cancellieri, another Partner at Veg-Fresh Farms says Iwamoto’s 23 years in retail and his strawberry expertise are a valuable addition to the workforce.
“When we hire people like Ray Iwamoto we get the best of both worlds; he broadens our company’s retail experience, and he brings the growing and sales side expertise,” Cancellieri explained in a statement.
Veg-Fresh Farms is a third generation family-run agribusiness, currently providing fresh produce under the Veg-Fresh Farms, Crystal Cove, and Good Life Organic™ labels.
