Fresh Produce Association of the Americas Elects New Board Members and Presents Multiple Honors
TUCSON, AZ - As you may have gathered from our latest yearbook and show recap, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) recently hosted an eventful first annual SouthWest International Produce Expo (SWIPE) alongside the 54th Annual Golf Tournament. Before welcoming the industry to the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona, the organization held its annual membership meeting on November 2, where it elected new directors to the board.
As a press release explained, FPAA Chairman Rod Sbragia of Crown Jewels Produce led the meeting, discussing the importance of member participation on the board and throughout the year in various FPAA meetings and events.
The organization announced the following newly elected distributor board members (two-year term):
- Rafael Roiz – TruFresh
- JC Myers – SunFed®
- Jorge Donnadieu – Fresh Farms
Newly elected associate board members (newly elected for a one-year term) include:
- Jorge Ruiz – Agri-Packing
- Mary Paz – Robinson Fresh
The organization also elected three division chairs. JJ Badillo of Fresh International has been re-elected as Tomato Division Chairman, John Pandol of Pandol Brothers has been re-elected as Grape Division Chairman, and Chris Ciruli of Ciruli Brothers was re-elected as Mango Division Chairman.
The following distributor board members were also re-elected for a two-year term:
- Walter Ram – The Giumarra Companies
- Juan Manuel Ibarra - Marengo Foods
- James Martin - Wilson Produce
- Guillermo Martinez - Frello Fresh
- Jose Luis Obregon – IPR Fresh
During the meeting, FPAA recognized the retiring board members for their valuable contributions, including Omar Losolla of Seeded Produce, Juan Pablo Molina of Fresh Farms, Alex Suarez of Suarez Brokers, Mikee Suarez of MAS Melons & Grapes, and Chuck Thomas of Thomas Produce.
The association also celebrated the Member of the Year and the Pillar of the Industry.
Raquel Espinoza of Produce House and FPAA Chairwoman-elect has been named “Member of the Year” in recognition of her outstanding contributions and dedication to the industry, and Emilia Gotsis was posthumously awarded the “Pillar of the Industry” honor, recognizing her as a pioneer in the fresh produce sector.
To view the full election results for the 2023 FPAA board members, including a list of those who will continue to serve with one year remaining on their term, click here.
Cheers to another year of driving industry growth! We can’t wait to see what FPAA accomplishes next.
