Calavo Growers names Helen Kurtz as new VP & GM, prepared foods

Calavo Growers Inc. has named Helen Kurtz as senior vice president & general manager of Calavo Prepared, the company’s prepared foods segment.

Kurtz is a veteran of the food industry with more than 25 years of experience, primarily with General Mills Inc. and most recently, serving as SVP, chief marketing officer of Foster Farms. There, she led the poultry business and orchestrated its sale to private equity. At General Mills, Kurtz led a number of brands, including Betty Crocker , Chex Mix and Fruit Snacks, and served as VP of Yoplait.

Earlier this year, Calavo announced it would reorganize its business into two segments, Grown and Prepared, with a senior vice president and general manager responsible for each. The dual segment structure aligns product fulfillment responsibilities with P&L management.

Kurtz will lead Calavo’s Prepared segment, which consists of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, ready-to-eat sandwiches, wraps, salads and snacks, guacamole and salsa sold at retail and food service in addition to avocado pulp sold to food service. Ron Araiza, who is retiring from a long career in the produce industry in October, will assist in onboarding and transitioning.