CHINO HILLS, CA - Oppy announces the return of produce industry veteran David Nelley as vice president of South American operations, bringing more than 30 years of global fresh produce experience back to the company.

Nelley’s career spans New Zealand, North America, Asia, Australia, South America and beyond, where he has driven sales, marketing and export strategies across multiple sectors of the fresh fruit industry. Most recently, he served as chief commercial officer at The Fresh Connection and vice president of retail sales at Apeel Sciences.

Before those roles, Nelley spent more than 18 years at Oppy in leadership positions including vice president of categories and global exports, and executive category director for apples, pears and northwest cherries. During that tenure, he strengthened supplier and retail partnerships, developed global programs, and led strategies that delivered strong growth and results for both Oppy and its grower-partners. Earlier in his career he held key marketing and sales roles with Enzafruit, now known as T&G Global, where he helped open new markets and was instrumental in building brands such as Envy and JAZZ apples.

“It’s an exciting time to fit right back into Oppy, a company that has been so formative in my career,” said Nelley in a recent press release. “I’m delighted to return to the culture at Oppy, and work with trusted colleagues who are friends. South America plays a critical role in global produce supply, and I look forward to working with our growers and retailers to deliver fruitful programs.”

In this role, Nelley will work closely with Oppy’s executive category directors, grower relations and sales teams to expand its comprehensive and continuous supply of fresh fruit for customers across North America. He will also oversee the company’s South American offices and grower relations teams, coordinating with key partners throughout the continent.

President and Chief Operating Officer David Smith added, “We’re happy to welcome David back to Oppy. His deep knowledge of our business, combined with his broad international experience, uniquely positions him to strengthen our South American programs and create new growth opportunities.”

With grower-partnerships in 27 countries supplying over 100 varieties, Nelley’s return marks the next chapter in Oppy’s dedication to delivering premium, year-round produce.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - The Allen Lund Company is pleased to announce the promotions of two ALC General Managers, Matt Gronostaj and Ben Batten, to Vice Presidents of Sales and Operations. They will transition into their new roles on October 1, 2025.

Matt Gronostaj joined the Allen Lund Company in 2005 as a Transportation Broker for ALC Memphis, working his way up to become the General Manager of the office, a press release stated.

Reflecting on his new role, Matt Gronostaj said, “I am so grateful and excited for the opportunity to move further into leadership. I am thankful for the executive team, the Lund family, and my peers that have put their trust in me. Looking forward to collaborating with the best minds in the business and bringing new and fresh ideas to further the success of Allen Lund Company.”

Eddie Lund, Chief Executive Officer, shared, “Matt started as a Transportation Broker, and through grit, hard work, and an ability to lead, he became one of our top GMs. For 20 years, Matt has consistently improved his ability to influence his peers and those who work for him positively. We are excited to see how he performs as a VP and know that he will help any offices that he serves. Congratulations, Matt, this promotion is well deserved.”

Ben Batten joined the Allen Lund Company in 2020 with the acquisition of Des Moines Truck Brokers. 

He served as the Assistant General Manager for the ALC Des Moines branch until he was promoted in 2022 to become the General Manager of the office.

Speaking about his promotion, Ben declared, “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the continued support of my colleagues and leadership team. I've been fortunate to work alongside a fantastic team in Des Moines for many years, and my success would not be possible without them. I look forward to this next chapter and contributing to Allen Lund Company's growth and success.”

Regarding Ben Batten's promotion, Eddie Lund stated, “When we purchased DMTB in 2020, we quickly realized how capable Ben was as an Assistant Manager. When he took over as GM of Des Moines, we knew that he would take them to the next level. Through ingenuity, intelligence, and hustle, Ben's leadership continued to flourish. That is why he is being promoted to Vice President. We know that he will serve his offices well, and we look forward to watching Ben perform at a high level with this next step in his career. Congratulations, Ben!”

FRESNO, CA - Baloian Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned farm that specializes in growing premium bell peppers year-round. As a vertically integrated operation, we oversee every step—from planting and harvesting to packing, cooling, and distribution—to ensure top quality and freshness.

Our bell peppers start as seedlings grown indoors. Once the seedlings establish roots, stems, and leaves, they become “transplants” ready for the outdoor soil. With ample sunlight, water, and care, the plants will grow and blossom. After successful pollination, flowers will develop into peppers. Once the peppers reach full size, shape, and desired ripeness, they are ready for harvesting.

Freshly picked peppers are taken straight to our advanced packing shed where they are washed, brushed, dried, and sorted. Using advanced photo optics and AI technology, we grade each pepper by size, shape, and quality, ensuring consistent excellence.

We pack our retail-grade peppers under the Pam Pak brand—short for “pampered pack”—reflecting our commitment to quality and care. Each box label provides end-to-end traceability back to the fields where the produce was grown.

Finally, we pre-cool peppers to preserve freshness and extend shelf-life during transport, so they arrive fresh in stores and homes nationwide.

At Baloian Farms, we take pride in nurturing every pepper from seed to shelf, delivering the highest-quality bell peppers you can taste.

For more exclusive operational insights, leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.

WASHINGTON - On July 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed an administrative complaint alleging that Smile Onion 7, Inc. of Columbia, Md., failed to make full payment promptly in the amount of $1,017,919.25 to 15 sellers for multiple lots of produce, purchased, received, and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

USDA and Smile Onion 7 then entered into a Consent Decision and Order in which Smile Onion 7 agreed to pay the unpaid produce sellers listed in Appendix A to the Complaint and to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $40,000. Smile Onion 7 has satisfied the terms of the Consent Decision and Order, and the finding that it committed repeated and flagrant PACA violations has been permanently abated without further process. The case has been closed.

For more information, contact Peter Scarabelli, Acting Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected].