MONTE VISTA, CO - After an extensive search for a new President and CEO, Farm Fresh Direct has announced it has chosen Potandon veteran Jamey Higham to take the helm. Higham will be filling the role left by former President Jim Knutzon, who will remain at Farm Fresh as CEO until his planned retirement in November to aid in the transition.

“I had a great experience at Potandon, they are a strong company with very good people. But when the opportunity came up with Farm Fresh, it represented a new chapter in my career, certainly with new challenges but also real opportunities,” Jamey explained in a statement. “Jim Knutzon has laid a strong foundation, one which I hope to build upon.”

Jamey most recently held the position of VP of Sales for Potandon Produce, rising up the ranks of the company through several senior management positions, including VP of Foodservice Sales and Director of New Business Development. While Jamey previously took a leap into the automotive world with several management roles in the Ford Division of the Ford Motor Company, he proclaimed "My heart was in produce, and I came back to potatoes.”

Virgil Esperanza, a Farm Fresh grower and current Chairman of the Board, commented on the company’s big development, “Jim Knutzon has been President and CEO since Farm Fresh began, and strategically led us through great growth. When he announced he planned to retire, we knew we had a hard job in front of us to find his replacement.”

Esperanza added, “After many interviews we found Jamey, and we believe he brings the perfect balance of experience, strategic thinking, and people skills needed to continue the growth that Farm Fresh and our members have come to expect. We’re excited to have Jamey join our team.”

Jamey currently sits on the United Fresh Government Relations Council and was a member of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Class of '13.

The company confirmed that Higham and his family plan to relocate to Colorado.

Farm Fresh Direct