Very early in his employment with Walmart in Argentina, Martin (Mar·teen) Mundo knew he wanted his career path to take him to the United States on a permanent basis.

“Before getting married (in Argentina), I told my wife, Mercedes, of my plan. She was aware of this journey from the very beginning and was absolutely supportive,” Mundo recently told The Produce News from his office in Bentonville, AR., which has been his home base for the last decade of his 29-year career with the world’s largest retailer.

Did you ever take one of those up-and-down rides at an amusement park until you got exhaustively dizzy? That’s how retailers felt this winter while trying to put together key produce items for ad promotions. It unfortunately occurred with some of the markets such as lettuce, tomatoes, cauliflower and peppers.

Family Tree Farms has hired Leighton Dill as its marketing manager, effective immediately.

Coming from a fifth-generation farm and ranch in Chowchilla, CA, Dill's agricultural journey started at a young age.  After graduating with a bachelor's degree in agribusiness from Oklahoma State University, she honed her skills as a research analyst for the Oklahoma Wheat Program. However, it was her passion for agricultural marketing that led her to switch gears and pursue a new route.

SugarBee apples, renowned for their incredible taste and fan-favorite status, are set to become a year-round delight for consumers around the globe. This announcement marks a significant milestone for the brand, as for the first time, SugarBee apples will be available through the entire summer season and tie into the fall harvest with no interruption.

 Longtime FloraCraft team member Dondi Richardson has become a certified florist through the Great Lakes Floral Association. 
 
Endorsed by the National Alliance of Floral Associations and recognized nationally, GLFA’s certification program covers all aspects of professional floristry, and those who complete it are recognized as the “best of the best” in floral design. 
 

JOH, a leading independent food broker based in Billerica, MA, with 17 offices and strategic partnerships across the United States, announced the promotions of Beth McGuire and Rich Martin to the positions of vice president of produce in the New England and metro regions, respectively, and Bill Nolan to the position of director of produce, New England.

In their newly expanded roles, McGuire, Martin and Nolan will help lead business development initiatives and manage the day-to-day activities for the New England and Metro teams.