Steve Dabich Joins United Melon Following 11 Years at Dulcinea Farms
LOS ANGELES, CA - 24-year produce veteran Steve Dabich of Dulcinea Farms has left the company to become a Managing Partner at United Melon. Most recently as Dulcinea’s Vice President of Sales, Steve will now be tasked with growing United Melon’s Sun Smart brand of premium watermelons.
“My role now as Managing Partner consists of growing distribution of our line of watermelons with retailers,” Steve tells me. “The relationships I’ve built over my tenure in the produce industry will help us grow the business and understand both the retail expectations and the grower-shipper side of the business. It's a partnership of accountability and a consistent supply.”
Steve began his carrier in the produce industry at the Los Angeles-based G & G Produce company in 1992, which eventually switched hands to become a subsidiary of Sysco. He began his 11-year tenure with Dulcinea Farms in 2005 as Director of Sales for the company’s comprehensive melon program, becoming Vice President of Sales in 2013.
Now a Managing Partner at United Melon, Steve’s goals are to continue to grow the 48-year-old company and it’s Sun Smart brand of watermelons.
“The goal for the company and the brand is to grow from a regional grower shipper by using our grower shipper relationships both east and west,” Steve continued. “United Melon has been in business since 1968 when the company was first founded by Ernie Zaferis, with his son Jim Zaferis, company President, and Van Ambatielos, Vice President, currently owning the company. United Melon is a family owned business with strong ties in the community.”
Steve assures me that he and the company will be giving retailers a brand they can count on, and a good eating experience of quality fruit that will bring consumers back for repeat sales.
Congrats on the new venture Steve and good luck from AndNowUKnow!
