WASHINGTON, DC - Board changes are underway for the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Foundation for Fresh Produce (FFP) as the organization has announced its 2024 Board Members, welcoming Alex DiNovo, President and Chief Operating Officer of DNO Produce, to the role of Chair alongside a team of experienced industry professionals.

“As I step into the role of Chair for the IFPA Foundation for Fresh Produce, I am honored and excited about the opportunity to champion global health through the promotion of fresh fruits and vegetables,” said DiNovo. “The mission to address nutrition insecurity is profoundly meaningful to me, both as a father of seven and as the leader of my family produce business. Thank you to Martha Hilton, our inaugural chair, for laying a strong foundation for our work. It is truly the honor of a lifetime to take the gavel as we strive to ensure everyone has access to fresh, healthy produce.”

DiNovo steps into this crucial role while 2023 Chair Martha Hilton, Vice President of Produce and Floral at Wegmans, retires as Chair and continues to serve on the board for one more year, a press release explained.

“Having the opportunity to be the inaugural chair of the IFPA Foundation for Fresh Produce was an incredible experience,” said Hilton. “The mission of the Foundation to change the trajectory of human health is one that I am personally passionate about and know that we can have a profound impact on. As the Chair, it was amazing to see how we were able to lay the groundwork for where we want the board to go in the future and really start to see the hard work pay off. As the incoming chair, Alex’s passion for childhood nutrition will continue to shape the Foundation, and I am beyond excited to see what new heights he will take the Foundation to!”

Alongside DiNovo, the 2024 slate of new and returning directors includes:

• Dwight Ferguson, California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, Chair Elect
• Martha Hilton, Wegmans, Immediate Past Chair
• John Oxford, L&M, Secretary/Treasurer

At Large Members of the board include:

• CarrieAnn Arias
• Inci Dannenberg, Bayer
• Nikki Ford, Hass Avocado Board
• Bil Goldfield, Dole Food Company
• Eileen Hyde, Walmart
• Jason Osborn, The Wonderful Company

In addition, the Foundation also celebrated and thanked several retiring board members for their contributions:

• Manuel Alcaino, Decofrut
• Fernando Herrara
• Jenny Maloney, Bayer
• Lisa McNeece, Grimmway Farms
• Desiree Olivero, Wakefern Food Corp.
• Jessica Shelly, Cincinnati Public Schools
• David Smith, The Oppenheimer Group

Read more about the FFP and its goals here. Congratulations to each of these integral industry leaders!