<p>Chiquita Brands International has appointed Courtney Parker as Vice President of Food Safety and Quality, according to a press release. Parker will not only have responsibility for Chiquita’s Fresh Express salad quality assurance and quality control programs, but she will also have global responsibility to serve as Chiquita’s primary liaison to regulatory agencies and other industry stakeholders, coordinating cross-functionally for the Company’s bananas and salads business units.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Courtney is highly regarded and respected by all stakeholders across the fresh produce industry,” said Brian W. Kocher, Chiquita’s Chief Operating Officer. “We are confident that her extensive operational experience, coupled with her scientific background and understanding of our commitment to food safety and quality will help us deliver superior product quality consistently at the shelf.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Parker most recently served as head of quality assurance, food safety and regulatory affairs for Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms, and also acted as senior scientific adviser to their sister company, Gills Onions, providing the strategic vision and technical guidance for its quality, food safety, and sanitary standards and practices. Parker has also served as a senior food safety and microbiology manager for Chiquita/Fresh Express, specializing in the development and implementation of quality policies and regulatory compliance programs. In addition, she has been a member of or contributor to numerous technical and strategic industry committees such as the California Leafy Greens Marketing Association, GMA, United Fresh, and the International Association of Food Protection.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Furthermore, Parker’s transition will be supported by James R. Lugg, a pioneer in the fresh produce industry who has served in senior leadership roles at Fresh Express, Chiquita, and with a number of industry advisory groups.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Congrats to Courtney and the Chiquita family!</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.chiquita.com/Healthy-Living.aspx" target="_new">Chiquita</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
