ANAHEIM, CA - Cheers to a decade! The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) has been uplifting industry members through its Apprentice Program for 10 years now—and the legacy continues. The organization’s Apprentice Task Force and Board of Directors recently selected 12 industry leaders to participate in the 2023 FPFC Apprentice Program.

“This class will mark the 10^th Anniversary of the Apprentice Program, with 100 graduates that have completed this program, we are excited to have had the largest number of applicants this year to date,” shared Don Gann, FPFC President. “The applicants are chosen from a wide range of companies and positions in the produce industry to participate in this elite nine-month program; candidates, viewed by their employers as having great leadership potential, are screened through a competitive selection process. Participation in this program adds tremendous value to the produce industry through programming designed to provide a holistic view of the industry and instill leadership skills in each Apprentice. Each year, I have the pleasure of calling these individuals to let them know they are accepted into this program, and I am thrilled with their enthusiasm to learn and grow into the leaders of tomorrow!”

FPFC’s Apprentice Program prepares participants for leadership roles in their companies and in the industry through a host of education sessions, facility and field tours, and group and team-building projects. Each Apprentice is also paired with an industry mentor to act as a guide and to facilitate introductions at networking events.

Marking the 10-year anniversary of the program, FPFC’s 10^th Apprentice class includes:

• Dan Addiego, FreshSource
• Shane Aldrich, D. Gardikas Produce
• Morgan Bahri
• Jake Beggin, Local Bounti
• Noah Lines, Westlake Produce Co.
• Courtney Ludford, Wonderful® Citrus
• Abby McPherson, Frieda’s
• Jackie Nakashian, Trinity Fruit Company
• Nick Schiavo, Allen Lund Company
• Elyse Seiler, Monterey Mushrooms
• Alexis Storm, JLZ Produce
• Fernando Tellez, Veg-Fresh Farms

“As a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Apprentice taskforce, I was very pleased to see that this year the FPFC had the most applicants ever to this program. Our Apprentice taskforce had a lot of hard decisions to make,” stated Michelle Allen- Ziegler, FPFC Apprentice Program Co-Chair. “I am very excited to watch the class of 2023 learn and grow together and share their successes as they continue throughout this year.”

Click here to read more about this advantageous program.

Congratulations to all 12 of these rising produce stars!

Fresh Produce & Floral Council