ONTARIO, CA - Heritage Grocers Group, the largest Hispanic and ethnic food retailer in the country, is pleased to announce the appointment of Leticia G. Espinoza to the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Reporting directly to Suzy Monford, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Grocers Group, Espinoza who previously served as Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer will oversee Real Estate, Loss Prevention, Corporate Affairs, Communications, Legal, Risk Management, and Human Resources across all Heritage banner companies, which include Cardenas Markets, Tony’s Fresh Market and El Rancho Supermercado.

“Leticia’s appointment is a reflection of her exceptional leadership, deep expertise, and dedication to our people and mission,” Monford said. “Her impact as Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer has been instrumental in strengthening our organization, and this expanded role is a well-earned recognition of her contributions. I am confident she will continue to foster a culture of integrity and innovation across all our banners.”

Her leadership and contributions to the grocery industry have also been recognized by Progressive Grocer, which named her a Top Woman in Grocery (TWiG) in both 2022 and again in 2025. She is also the recipient of the Professional Achievement Award from the Mexican American Bar Foundation, a testament to her leadership in the legal field and commitment to community service, particularly in ways that uplift the Hispanic community.

Espinoza joined the Cardenas Markets banner in 2019 as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. She brought with her extensive in-house legal experience from her time at Bodega Latina Corporation (now Chedraui USA). With over 25 years of legal experience, more than two decades of which have been in executive in-house roles for both publicly traded and privately owned organizations, Espinoza has developed deep expertise in corporate law, labor and employment law, legal department management, human resources, compliance, risk management, construction, real estate, and financial services.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School. Espinoza also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cardenas Markets Foundation, Heritage Grocers Group Foundation, Manos y Corazones Unidos Foundation, Olive Crest Roundtable, and the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance.

FRESNO, CA - Fowler Packing Company is proud to welcome Rudy Placencia as vice president of sales. With over two decades of leadership experience in the agriculture industry and a distinguished background in military service, Placencia brings a strategic, people-first approach to leading high-performance sales organizations.

“I’m honored to join a company with such a strong reputation for integrity, innovation, and customer focus,” said Placencia in a recent release. “Fowler Packing’s commitment to excellence and its deep roots in the Central Valley align closely with my own values, and I’m excited to contribute to its continued growth.”

Prior to joining Fowler Packing, Placencia held senior leadership roles across the agriculture industry, including at Star Fine Foods, Nichols Farms, Impact Group, and Touchstone Pistachio. In these positions, he led sales strategy, operations, and cross-functional teams, driving growth through national retail programs, supply chain optimization, and customer-focused execution. His track record includes building high-performing teams and delivering measurable revenue gains across multiple market channels.

Before entering the agriculture industry, Placencia served over 15 years in the U.S. Army, where he commanded at the platoon, company, and battalion levels. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Mechanized Leader’s Course, Army Logistics Management College, and the Inspector General School. He credits his military experience with shaping the leadership philosophy he brings to every business opportunity.

“Rudy’s combination of operational discipline, industry expertise, and relationship-driven leadership is exactly what we need as we expand our sales efforts,” said Justin Parnagian, chief executive officer of Fowler Packing Company. “We’re excited to have him onboard.”

Placencia earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern California and holds both an MBA and MPA from California State University, Fresno. He lives in the Fresno area with his wife and three children and remains actively engaged in community and industry organizations.

As vice president of sales, Placencia will lead Fowler Packing’s sales strategy, overseeing national retail partnerships and driving initiatives to support the continued growth of the company’s agriculture portfolio, including Samsons® grapes and Peelz® citrus.

OREGON - The wait is over—Berry Fresh’s Oregon blueberry season is officially underway, bringing with it some of the finest blueberries North America has to offer. Known for its rich farming heritage and ideal growing conditions, Oregon sets the stage for Berry Fresh to deliver exceptional fruit to customers across the continent.

This year, Berry Fresh reaffirms its commitment to flavor and maintaining quality. “We grow for flavor, not just volume,” says Bruce Turner, Director of Procurement, in the recent press release. “Our Oregon farm has flavor-forward varieties like SekoyaCrunch® and SekoyaFiesta® and is in the process of planting some yet-unnamed varieties that have strong flavor and offer that sweet, juicy bite consumers crave. It’s what sets us apart—and what keeps our customers coming back.”

Berry Fresh is also committed to hand-harvesting every blueberry, ensuring a gentle touch that protects the delicate fruit and preserves peak flavor, maintaining the eating experience of its berries.

In addition to quality, Berry Fresh is focused on growing more responsibly every season. From efficient water and energy usage to improved soil health practices, the Oregon farm is part of the company’s broader mission to build a more sustainable berry program.
As the season begins, Berry Fresh is excited for this year’s crop. Through new proprietary varieties being planted and consistently improved operations, the Berry Fresh farm continues to set itself apart as a Pacific Northwest grower.

COLLINSVILLE, IL - Packaging manufacturer Sev-Rend has announced the return of its annual pink packaging program in advance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The initiative, which offers pink netting and customizable graphic options, allows produce brands and retailers to visibly support awareness efforts tied to one of the most prominent health campaigns in the U.S.

Sev-Rend has offered the campaign for multiple years as a way for its customers to participate in cause-related marketing while maintaining access to domestically produced materials and fast turnaround times.

October is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign that brings attention to the disease and promotes early detection, education, and research. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, outside of skin cancer.

To participate in Sev-Rend’s program, customers can order pink netting and collaborate with the company’s graphics team to develop custom tags or packaging visuals. The materials are produced in the U.S. and shipped nationwide.

“We’ve seen growing interest from brands that want to incorporate more meaningful storytelling into their packaging, especially around nationally recognized causes,” said Brittnie Hammack, Director of Marketing at Sev-Rend, in the recent release. “This program gives them a timely and visible way to do that.”

Lead times for custom graphics and netting can vary, and Sev-Rend recommends customers place orders as early as possible to ensure product availability ahead of October.

Additional information is available through Sev-Rend sales representatives or by contacting [email protected].