PHILADELPHIA, PA - A new Chairman of the Board of Directors has been named by AgroFresh Solutions. The company appointed an industry veteran, naming Lipman Family Farms’ Kent Shoemaker to the role.

“My journey to this role has been marked by a deep respect for agriculture and a passion for fostering sustainable practices,” stated Shoemaker. “It is an honor to be associated with such a highly regarded leader in the area of produce sustainability.”

Until his retirement in 2023, Shoemaker served as Chief Executive Officer of Lipman Family Farms for nearly 14 years. The Immokalee, Florida-based company provides year-round fresh produce through an integrated network of research and development, farming, processing, and packing.

Prior to Lipman, Shoemaker spent 26 years at FreshPoint, according to a press release, the final 10 years as Chief Operating Officer. Shoemaker was part of the leadership team whose expansion efforts resulted in the sale of FreshPoint to Sysco Corporation.

“As we continue to expand our products and services for additional crops, we remain committed to helping our customers meet their post-harvest challenges at every step in the fresh produce supply chain,” said Clint Lewis, CEO of AgroFresh. “We are excited to welcome a leader like Kent who has walked in our customers’ shoes and has been a successful business leader with direct experiences in produce production and managing risk along the supply chain as produce travels from harvest to home.”

As the newest independent director, Shoemaker replaces Brian Kocher as Chairman of the Board, who has recently transitioned off the Board to take on the role of CEO for SunOpta.

“Kent’s experience will be invaluable to us as AgroFresh continues its transformation to expand its pathways for growth, having recently completed the acquisitions of both Tessara and Pace International,” added Lewis.

Congratulations to the new Chairman!