WASHINGTON, D.C. - United Fresh has announced a host of new directors and officers, whose positions will go into effect on April 29 of this year.

Tom Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh“United Fresh has a strong history of bringing together members from all sectors of the industry to lead our association forward,” Tom Stenzel, United Fresh President and CEO, said in a press release. “This line-up of nominees for our consolidated Board of Directors, together with our returning Board members and new officers, makes a tremendously impressive slate of leaders who will ensure a powerful voice for our membership and our industry.”

Brian Kocher, Interim CEO, Chiquita, Chairman, United FreshBrian Kocher, Interim CEO for Chiquita and current Chairman-Elect of the Board, will ascend to Chairman of the Board with Tony Freytag, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Crunch Pak, moving into Chairman-Elect.

Current United Fresh Chairman of the Board Ron Carkoski, President and CEO for Four Seasons Family of Companies, will move to Immediate Past Chairman, and Lisa Strube, Director of Finance and Administration for Strube Celery and Vegetable Company, has been nominated Secretary Treasurer.

Below are those that have been nominated to serve as new members for a two-year term on the United Fresh Board beginning next month:

• Brian Antle, Harvest Manager, Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, CA.
• Jackie Caplan Wiggins, Vice President and COO, Frieda’s, Inc., Los Alamitos, CA.
• Suresh DeCosta, Manager Quality Systems for U.S. Supply Chain Management, McDonald’s Corporation, Oakbrook, IL.
• Bret Erickson, President and CEO, Texas International Produce Association in Mission, TX.
• Bob Mast, President, Columbia Marketing International (CMI), Wenatchee, WA.
• Michael Muzyk, President, Baldor Specialty Foods, Inc, Bronx, NY.
• Jason Pounds, Partner, Hardie’s Fresh Foods, Dallas, TX.
• Howard Roeder, President, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Monterey, CA.
• Dorn Wenninger, Vice President, Produce and Floral, Wal-Mart US, Bentonville, AR.
• Ross Wileman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Mission Produce, Oxnard, CA.
• Charles Wingard, Vice President of Field Operations, Walter P. Rawl & Sons, Inc., Pelion, SC.

Stenzel thanked Immediate Past Chairman Ron Midyett and Secretary-Treasurer Lorri Koster, who served with distinction as officers this year, as well as all those concluding their time as Board members, stating that the industry is ever-changing, and their contributions and thoughtful leadership have positively impacted its success, advancing the organization in so many ways.

United Fresh