SALINAS, CA - Over the course of the past eight years, Susan Canales’ name has helped fine-tune the way we think about organics. The industry veteran has played an integral role in helping to put the Organic Produce Summit (OPS) on the map, utilizing her passion, commitment, and experience to elevate an organization built to thrive. With all that she has brought to the industry, it was my pleasure to sit down with Susan as she spoke about her retirement from her post as President of OPS, and the joy fresh fruits and veggies have brought to her life.

“I am truly grateful for the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” Susan shared with me. “It is easy to be passionate about fresh produce and the innovative products that are our lifeblood. How lucky we are that we can bring to market the most beneficial products on the planet: healthy food! It is hard to go wrong with great people to work with and an amazing product like fresh produce.”

The relationships we form in this industry rival the best of them—further deepening our lives, as Susan expresses. She has many of them, having spent much of her career in fresh produce at the Nunes Company, where she spent 17 years in the marketing department. The position was unique, and she was able to learn and interact with other departments in the company.

“I can’t say enough about my years with the Nunes Company. They are so near and dear to my heart,” Susan shares. “Under the marketing umbrella, I managed packaging for the company, cartons, ties, etc., but as things like traceability came up, I began connecting with the field and cooler in a more in-depth way.”

When the Nunes Company started Foxy Foods, Susan stepped into managing all packaging components for the processing plant, dips, labels, and containers, which further introduced her to the processing plant.

“I had the distinct honor of gathering data from Nunes family members for an industry publication, so I had the unique task of interviewing various family members. I was fortunate to have one-on-one conversations with both Bob and Tom Sr. and hear stories about when the industry as we know it today began. My days with The Nunes Company are some of the fondest memories of my life,” Susan reflects. “There was a group of us at The Nunes Company who were hired in the same year, and we became great friends. When we started OPS, it was a whole different side of the industry and led to meeting another great group of people who have been like family over the past eight years. I think it’s a tremendous blessing when you can work beside people you really enjoy.”

Being with OPS since the outset in 2016 made for one of the biggest challenges and opportunities of Susan’s life—a moment in time that stretched for more than eight years.

“Creating something new is both terrifying and gratifying at the same time. The first year, we weren’t even sure people would show up, but as it turned out, there was a space in the industry that needed to be filled, and we stepped into it. For me, putting each of the pieces of the program together with the OPS team throughout the year and then seeing it all come together over the two days of OPS has always been so rewarding,” Susan remembers. “When you see people engaged in the show, whether through educational sessions, or the trade show floor, or networking at lunch, it gives you a great feeling of accomplishment. Knowing that something our team put together was relevant, inspiring, and motivating is a feeling you never get over.”

As I sat in front of Susan, feeling very much inspired by this amazing industry, I wondered what advice she might have had for her younger self—tools we could all glean from.

“I would tell my younger self and anyone looking to grow their career, to not be afraid of rejection. If you see a hole in the company, approach management, share insights, don’t be afraid to step up even if your ideas aren’t taken to heart immediately,” she expressed.

I ate up every word of this as Susan went on.

“You never know when someone will think back on a comment you made. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. We live in a society where it’s taboo to ask questions, but asking questions is the bravest thing and helps you and everyone around you grow. You might think your question is obvious, but there are probably five other people in the meeting with the same question but are afraid to ask it,” she says.

Please join me in congratulating Susan Canales on her recent retirement! Thank you for the passion, dedication, and leadership you have shared with us all.

WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses in Georgia. The companies were sanctioned for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: 

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• South Side Fresh Produce, operating out of Forest Park, Georgia, for failing to pay a $6,800 award in favor of a Minnesota seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Pedro Consuelo Salinas and Pascual Avitia, Sr., were listed as members of the business
• All Fresh Farms, operating out of Tifton, Georgia, for failing to pay a $43,070 award in favor of an Arizona seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Bobby J. Pettiford was listed as the member and manager of the business

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it, as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

To read the release in its entirety, click here.

MAITLAND, FL - With a love of the industry and a passion for its people, Tori Rumenik has been promoted to the role of Director of Commodity Services and Supply Chain for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA).

Rumenik joined FFVA in 2019 as a manager focused on supply chain issues and commodity services, including the management of the Sunshine Sweet Corn Farmers of Florida and Florida Vegetable Exchange, a release stated.

Over the last five years with the association, she has been a voice for its members at the state and federal levels. Rumenik’s efforts have centered on addressing critical supply chain challenges that specialty crop producers face and working through farm bill and competitiveness issues, including disaster response, improved risk management and crop insurance tools, and domestic promotion opportunities.

In coordination with the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, Rumenik has played a key role in securing research grants for a variety of crops, including radishes, sweet corn, peaches, and more.

The leader is regularly called upon to provide her expertise at industry events and represents the industry on a variety of boards, including serving as Chair of Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, an advisory board member of the UF/IFAS Public Issues Education Center, and on the Sweet CAP Grant Industry Advisory Committee.

“Tori has a passion for our growers, and I am grateful that she has chosen to share that passion with FFVA,” said FFVA President Mike Joyner. “Her commitment to our industry is unwavering, and the respect of her peers is unmatched.”

Congratulations to Tori Rumenik on her promotion!

WATSONVILLE, CA - It was an exciting week of events for the Driscoll’s team as the beloved berry brand recently took to the 2024 South by Southwest® event to discuss the future of industry innovation and share valuable insights regarding agriculture and technology.

“SXSW attracts creatives and visionaries from around the globe. Driscoll’s is honored to have been selected for not one but two high-profile sessions,” shared Frances Dillard, Vice President of Marketing, exclusively with AndNowUKnow.

The berry provider kicked off the event with a session titled “The Future of Flavor: Science, Trends, and Innovation,” which explored the future of flavor innovation and the tastes satisfying Gen Z consumers. The session was moderated by Dillard; panel experts included the CEO of the Grapery, a data expert from Circana, and a reporter for Bon Appetit, Taste, and The New York Times.

As the company explained in a recent release, Driscoll’s Chief Executive Officer Soren Bjorn was front and center in another session on "Innovating Ag: Technology Transforms Our Oldest Industry." The session was moderated by Wall Street Journal Reporter Jesse Newman, and participants from Mineral and Land O’Lakes joined the discussion, which focused on early use cases and ways AI can play a positive role in ensuring the future of our global food supply.

Following these insightful discussions, Driscoll’s also sponsored Food Tank’s “All Things Food Summit” on Thursday, March 14. The event was hosted at the Barr Mansion in Austin, Texas, and featured more than 60 speakers on multiple stages, delicious food, film viewings, live performances, tastings, and more.

As more powerful operations seek to share their insights with the industry, ANUK will be here with the latest updates.