CORAL GABLES, FL - Fresh Del Monte Produce announced that it has completed the acquisition of select assets of California-based Del Monte Foods Corporation II Inc. and its affiliates for approximately $285 million. The transaction was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey following a court-supervised sale under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and will be funded through a combination of cash on hand and availability under Fresh Del Monte’s revolving credit facility.

The transaction marks a historic milestone for both companies and the broader food industry, bringing the Del Monte® brand under a single owner for the first time in nearly four decades. By aligning fresh and shelf-stable products under a coordinated global strategy, Fresh Del Monte is positioned to unlock the full potential of one of the world’s most recognized food brands and lead the next chapter of the iconic brand. The Company expects the transaction to:

• Strengthen brand consistency and identity across categories
• Expand household penetration and consumer reach across more occasions and channels
• Enhance operational efficiency, flexibility, and cost structure
• Support sustainable long-term value creation
• Accelerate innovation across both fresh and packaged platforms
• Introduce new growth avenues through brand extensions and global licensing opportunities

“Reuniting the Del Monte® brand under one global leader is a truly significant moment for our company. Del Monte has been one of the most recognized names in food for more than 140 years,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in a press release. “While the brand has operated across separate platforms for the past four decades, its heritage has always been rooted in bringing quality food to consumers around the world. Bringing these businesses together allows us to move forward with a unified strategy that strengthens the brand across fresh and packaged categories while creating new opportunities for growth, innovation, and global reach. In many ways, this moment reflects the enduring trust and global recognition the Del Monte® brand has earned over generations and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the brand.”

Under the transaction, Fresh Del Monte will assume certain liabilities and acquire global ownership of the Del Monte® brand, subject to existing licensing arrangements. The Company will also acquire key prepared and packaged foods businesses, including the following brands:

Brands Included

• Del Monte® and S&W® packaged vegetable brands
• Del Monte® and Contadina® packaged tomato brands
• Del Monte® packaged refrigerated fruit brand

Operational Footprint

The acquisition includes a diversified manufacturing and operating footprint across North America and key international markets, including:

• Four select U.S. facilities in Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington
• Two manufacturing facilities in Mexico
• One operation in Venezuela
• Material customer and supplier contracts, ensuring continuity of service
• Associated inventory, operating assets, and employees

Assets Not Included in the Transaction

• Canned fruit and other ambient packaged fruit and fruit sauce products for the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico
• The College Inn® and Kitchen Basics® broth and stock brands
• Physical assets associated with those excluded businesses

Following the close of the transaction, Fresh Del Monte will house the newly acquired brands and businesses within a dedicated business unit to ensure stability and continuity for customers, retailers, suppliers, growers, and employees. The Company does not expect any immediate changes to products, packaging, or distribution. In the near term, Fresh Del Monte’s priority is maintaining seamless operations across the acquired businesses while taking a measured approach to integration and supporting the experienced teams who have built strong relationships with customers and partners. Additional detail on integration progress and financial expectations will be shared during the Company’s first quarter 2026 earnings call.

Rabobank served as exclusive financial advisor to Fresh Del Monte, with Greenberg Traurig and Dickinson Wright serving as legal advisors.

VALENCIA, CA - Sunkist Growers is continuing to invest in operational strength and global growth with the addition of two new leadership roles: Joshua Carr, Director of Procurement, and Stephen Sheldon, Director of Global Business Development. Both roles report to Christian Harris, Chief Operating Officer, and reflect Sunkist’s continued investment in top talent to strengthen its operations, expand global opportunities, and deliver long-term value for its grower-members.

Carr joins Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply as Director of Procurement, where he will oversee purchasing operations across several business units, manage supplier relationships, and support procurement strategy across the organization. He brings more than 15 years of procurement and supply chain experience, most recently with Walmart Stores Inc., where he supported large-scale purchasing and supplier management initiatives.

Sheldon joins Sunkist as Director of Global Business Development, where he will focus on driving growth through new and existing international market opportunities and key strategic accounts. He brings more than 19 years of experience across the produce and agricultural sectors, including roles with Limoneira, Westpak Avocado, and NuVasive. Raised in a citrus-growing family in Lindsay, California, Sheldon brings a deep understanding of the citrus industry and the growers who power it.

“Josh and Stephen bring exceptional experience, leadership, and strategic perspective to Sunkist,” said Harris in a release. “Their addition strengthens our leadership team and positions us well as we continue expanding our operations, global partnerships, and long-term growth strategy.”

Carr and Sheldon will play key roles in advancing several strategic priorities across the organization. From strengthening procurement and supplier partnerships to expanding international market opportunities, their leadership reinforces the cooperative’s focus on building the capabilities needed to serve a dynamic and evolving citrus marketplace.

CARLSBAD, CA - When Carrie Mack begins to share her experiences, the energy in the room shifts—gentle, attentive, expectant. Ever humble, Carrie would likely downplay this truth, but it’s exactly why she belongs in spaces where women gather to grow, learn, and lift one another higher. As Co-Chair for the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference (WFPC) and Senior Sourcing Manager, Apples and Pears at Walmart, Carrie has the rare privilege of both leading and participating in this coveted annual event. And each year, she especially looks forward to welcoming those attending for the very first time.

“If you’re new to the Women’s Fresh Perspectives, my biggest piece of advice is simple: PARTICIPATE!” Carrie begins. “You are there because your company chose to invest in you. Let that sink in for a minute. Someone sees your potential. Someone believes you’re worth developing. That’s not small, so don’t treat it like it is. Introduce yourself. Ask the question. Sit at a table with people you don’t know yet. This industry runs on relationships—real ones. Authentic, transparent, human connections. And those don’t start on LinkedIn. They start with a conversation over coffee, a shared story, a ‘tell me more about that.’”

It can be hard to enter a space like this, one where competitors, customers, and many unknowns may cause someone to hesitate at participating, but let me say, those walls dissolve, and the space is truly a safe one.

“This is the kind of space where you can talk about the wins, the tough meetings, the ‘why did I say that out loud?’ moments, and leave feeling smarter and more supported than when you walked in,” Carrie describes. “And hear me clearly on this: The women in that room are not your competition. They are your network. Your sounding board. Your future collaborators. The person sitting next to you could be the one you call in two years when you’re negotiating a promotion or navigating a career pivot. We are there to help you along your journey. Every woman in that room has learned something the hard way. Take advantage of that.”

Build the relationships, Carrie emphasizes, and follow up afterward. Stay connected. Show up fully. Take up space.

Over the past year, Carrie has observed much in the industry’s ever-changing demographics, challenges, and victories. She pauses here to share with me that you can sense the change at the individual and group levels—beginning in those moments right after the event concludes.

“What gives me hope isn’t one big headline moment—it’s what’s happened after the conference. I’ve watched women who met at Women’s Fresh Perspectives actually show up for each other. Not the polite ‘let me know if you need anything’ kind of support. The real kind. The ‘I just got out of a meeting, and I’m replaying it in my head—can we talk?’ kind,” she reflects. “When someone speaks up and feels unheard. When they get shut down. When they walk out thinking, ‘Well, that didn’t land how I hoped.’ Instead of internalizing it or spiraling solo, they call someone from this network. And the response isn’t fluff. It’s practical. ‘Here’s how I’d reframe that.’ ‘Here’s how I negotiated that.’ ‘Here’s how I decided whether to keep pushing in that room, or find a different room.’”

These conversations become momentum, and that momentum is contagious.

“There have been honest conversations about compensation, financial stress, career pivots, confidence hits; the kind of things that don’t usually make it into performance reviews but absolutely shape careers,” Carrie says. “This year hasn’t been easy for many of us. But we haven’t been alone. I can’t point to just one uplifting victory because, honestly, we’ve had to rally around more than a few situations. And in a strange way, that’s the victory. The network works. The support is active. Women in this industry aren’t navigating the hard seasons by themselves anymore. That gives me a lot of hope.”

In Carrie’s experience, gatherings like Women’s Fresh Perspectives are meaningful for women in the fresh produce industry because they create something rare—a space where women are safe, equal, and can show up exactly as they are.

“Cheese or no cheese, that’s genuinely how it feels. Titles soften in that room. Years of experience don’t carry the same weight. You’re not polishing your sentences before you speak. You’re not trying to sound ready,” she tells me. “You just show up as a human who works in this industry. And then the real magic happens. Women start sharing the stories that normally stay behind closed doors—the tough feedback, the confidence wobble, the meeting that didn’t go as planned, the moment they realized they’d been underestimated.”

And when someone says it out loud, you can see it ripple across the room. Heads nod. Shoulders drop.

“Someone exhales. There’s this collective: It’s not just me. That’s where growth actually starts. Not from a perfect slide deck. Not from a polished answer. It starts when we’re honest enough to let other women see us fully, and they meet us there,” Carrie expresses. “From there, the confidence builds quickly. The learning accelerates. And you realize you’re no longer navigating this industry solo. You’re doing it alongside women who understand the business—and understand you. That combination? That’s powerful.”

We all belong there, Carrie concludes, adding that we will all get out of it exactly what we are willing to put in.

And Carrie, well, as you can imagine, she goes ALL in.

READING, PA - If you know Jim Hickey, you know that he is as fun and candid as he is dedicated and passionate about produce. And most of his emails are fully fleshed out in the subject line—before you even come to the body. With a career spanning nearly 50 years in retail, it is hard to begin to tell Jim’s story, but if I could sum it up in one phrase, it would be: In a business built on things that don’t last, Jim Hickey proved that what endures is how you show up—honest, relentless, and grounded in respect for every hand that brings life to the table.

From mopping a grocery store floor at 15 to leading a team and culture that reveres and adores him at Redner’s Markets, Jim’s career in fresh produce is one to mirror. As he approaches retirement from his role as Senior Buyer on March 20, 2026, Jim joins me to look back on a career well lived, and what comes next.

“In my opinion, working in produce is the most exciting and interesting thing you can do. There are real people behind every curtain in this business,” Jim begins. “Farmers with calloused hands and dirty boots who haven’t had solid time off in a lifetime. Field workers with families, sometimes thousands of miles away, performing unimaginable tasks for hours on end. Truck drivers going coast to coast numerous times per month in just three to four days. Salespeople trying to find a balance between buyer satisfaction and profit for their charge—24 hours a day. Buyers determined to ‘get inventory turns.’ Warehouse workers breaking down loads and selecting product for redistribution. Administrative staff, on so many levels, accounting for the money to get it all done. It is all a chaotic masterpiece.”

Beautifully said, but I would expect nothing less from Jim. His heart and soul have been in every transaction since he started managing them. Though Jim would be quick to correct my use of the word transaction—the man is all about relationships.

Looking back, Jim has learned many lessons and values from his career, and he hopes the next generation of produce professionals carries the sanctity of relationships forward.

“Pick up the phone and SPEAK to people. Get boots on the ground at any opportunity for any part of the process. Grow a Victory Garden and ask yourself whether your end product would pass inspection and/or fill an order to satisfy the larger community,” he reflects. “Be respectful of everyone in the process. Admire a farmer/grower for what they are.”

Jim, you have had an incredible decades-long career in fresh produce retail, rising from store clerk to trusted buyer and leader at Redner’s Markets, where you spent years sourcing product directly from the Philadelphia market, guiding teams, and fostering deep relationships across the supply chain, grounded in experience, resilience, and respect for the industry.

Congratulations on all you have accomplished, the relationships you have made, and the next chapter to come.

MISSION VIEJO, CA - The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) has announced the election of its 2026 executive committee, ushering in a new year of leadership and strategic direction for the organization.

As of March 17, 2026, the following individuals have assumed executive committee roles:

• Importer, Gwen Jackimek – Chairperson
• Producer, Jamie Johnson – Vice Chairperson
• Importer, LeighAnne Neary – Treasurer
• Producer, Jeff Dickinson – Secretary

“The Hass Avocado Board achieved history-making milestones throughout 2025, including crossing the 3-billion-pound market threshold and elevating avocados to a produce aisle powerhouse,” said Jackimek. “I’m honored to take the helm of our new executive committee at this critical juncture for the market and make further history as the Hass Avocado Board’s first female Chairperson.”

Jackimek is a graduate from Class 2 of HAB’s Board Leadership Development program (BOLD) and further commented, “I have spent my entire career in the produce industry with a strong commitment to avocados. I am a proud graduate of BOLD and am thankful for a program that clearly defines the pathway to effective board leadership and for its role in developing future industry stewards.”

As HAB eagerly anticipates Jackimek and the new committee’s leadership, the Board also expresses deep appreciation to Bob Schaar, Elaine Bannatyne, Debbie Willmann, Rocco Fiore II, Daniel Harte, and Juan Monsalve, who completed their terms on October 31, 2025, and contributed significantly to the Board’s mission.

“The Executive Committee is central to HAB’s ability to advance its mission,” said Emiliano Escobedo, HAB Executive Director. “We are grateful for the dedication of our outgoing members and confident that our incoming committee will continue driving meaningful progress for the industry.”

HAB convenes quarterly to set priorities, share insights, and develop strategies that benefit the entire avocado sector. Its meetings are unique in including international importer representatives, fostering collaboration and the exchange of market data, sustainability practices, and marketing strategies. As the only independent organization serving the avocado industry, HAB plays a vital role in uniting stakeholders, supporting informed decision-making, and promoting growth across the supply chain.

For more information about HAB and its programs, visit: HassAvocadoBoard.com.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Grimmway Produce Group (GPG) today announced that current President & CEO Jeff Huckaby will transition to a new role effective March 23, 2026. Huckaby, who has been the company’s chief executive since 2016, will focus all of his time on GPG’s farming operation as Chief Agricultural Officer.

Huckaby’s transition to Chief Agricultural Officer will allow him to dedicate his full attention to GPG’s farming operations. As the company’s agricultural footprint has grown significantly in size and complexity, Huckaby felt the company would benefit from his sole focus being on the farming operations that are central to the company's success.

“After an exhaustive search, I am happy to announce that we have selected Ken Silveira to succeed me as CEO of Grimmway Produce Group,” shared Huckaby. “Ken’s experience in the agricultural sector has given him the years of experience that make him an ideal candidate to lead our organization.”

A fourth-generation carrot farmer, Huckaby joined Grimmway in 1998 as a Ranch Manager. He went on to lead the company’s organic farming efforts, expanding the business from a few hundred acres into one of the largest organic farming operations in the country, spanning more than 50,000 acres. Named Grimmway’s Executive Vice President in 2006 and President in 2016, Huckaby has guided Grimmway through periods of rapid growth and major change, shaping the company into today’s Grimmway Produce Group. The organization now farms, grows, and harvests across 19 states and four Canadian provinces, supported by hundreds of sheds and 20 facilities.

During his time at Grimmway, Huckaby was appointed to the California Department of Food and Agriculture State Board and the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, contributing his experience to agricultural policy at the state and national levels. Throughout his career, Huckaby has stayed grounded in what matters most to him: farming.

“As I head into what some would consider the twilight of my career, I am excited to be returning to my roots on the farm,” said Huckaby. “Since my time as a young boy on my grandfather’s farm, it has always been clear that being in the field is truly my first love. I am excited to be spending dedicated time fine-tuning what is already considered a top-tier and extensive farming operation.”

Silveira joins Grimmway Produce Group with nearly 40 years of leadership experience in the fresh produce industry across grower-shippers, value-added companies, and industry organizations. Most recently, he served as President of Bengard Ranch. He previously served as CEO of The VPS Companies, President of Mastronardi Produce-West, and spent nearly two decades with Tanimura & Antle, where he concluded his tenure as President and COO. Silveira has also served on several industry boards, including the Fresh Produce & Floral Council, Stemilt Growers, and Earthbound Farms.

In the months ahead, Silveira will spend time with employees and customers across the business to gain a firsthand understanding of operations. In partnership with the existing Executive Leadership Team, Silveira will focus on building on Grimmway Produce Group’s strong foundation and supporting its continued growth.

CARLSBAD, CA - There’s no finish line for personal growth. The beauty of Emily Zirkle’s statement to me is that it implies a constant intention, maintenance, and excavation—no matter where a person is in their personal and professional journeys. Emily, Business Development at Rainier Fruit Company, is a passionate advocate for learning and unlearning, often simultaneously. As we approach the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference April 6–8, 2026, she joins me to look back at the coveted program—and forward—as the event draws near.

“Now that I’m a few years into being intentional about bettering myself, I can’t wait to talk with my peers about what they’ve found helpful on their journeys and share what I’ve found helpful myself. I’ve found it’s easy to keep growth a solitary thing, so I’m always looking for chances to make it communal,” Emily reflects. “What really draws me to Women’s Fresh Perspectives is the strength and caliber of programs. This is no tea party social; what’s shared and discussed is real—challenging the status quo and traditionally ‘taboo’ topics. If taken to heart, the perspectives can and will be deeply transformational both professionally and personally.”

As someone who has attended Women’s Fresh Perspectives before, there is much that is drawing Emily back—from lessons and perspectives to relationships—all of which have helped her grow her career.

“My biggest takeaway from the conference I attended was that it’s worth it to put yourself out there, imperfections and messiness and all,” Emily expresses. “It’s easy to minimize ourselves, especially as women, and instead let our fears talk us out of sharing what we think or how we feel. Seeing strong women in high places share that they, too, still struggle with confidence was incredibly moving. Ever since, I’ve worked hard to be courageous and lean in even when it’s scary.”

Strengthening and expanding support networks within the fresh produce industry is also an invaluable part of the Women’s Fresh Perspectives program. But Emily takes it one step further to spotlight someone who is constantly making space for other women at the table.

“I can’t talk about support networks without shouting out Carrie Mack for using her influence to bring so many women from our industry into the fold,” she says. “Thanks to her nudging our organization to attend, colleagues of mine and I have connected with so many of our peers in a way that only this produce industry-wide conference can. Some of us are rivals on the playing field, of course, but supporting each other off the field is incredibly valuable.”

Emily’s excitement about the upcoming conference is contagious, and I can’t wait to see her story in action this April.

See you all there!