Albertsons Cos. announced that Jennifer Saenz will join the company as executive vice president, chief merchandising officer effective July 12. Saenz will be responsible for all areas of merchandising within the company, including Own Brands. Saenz will also be responsible for further strengthening the company’s relationships with its brand partners.

Jeff Walker, long time Houston, TX-based sales manager for Oppy will hang up his hat at the end of the month. Walker, who started selling produce from his family’s farm when he was 8 years old, joined Oppy in January 1994, opening the company’s fifth U.S. office on Houston’s Produce Row.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

Sunny Valley International, headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, announced June 15 that Steve Pinkston will be retiring, effective June 20.