United Fresh expands industry relations team
United Fresh Produce Association has expanded its industry relations team by adding new staff positions to serve members in the following sectors – grower-shipper, wholesaler-distributor, fresh-cut processor, retail and foodservice as well as industry service providers.
“As we’ve worked to support our members across the industry with education, training, networking and other opportunities, it’s become clear that multiple market segments really have unique needs that can best be served with a real focus on that segment,” said United Fresh Vice President of Member Services Miriam Wolk. “Our volunteer market boards have been the first line of action to meet those needs, and we’re now excited to add new staff positions to drive added member value to each segment.”
Current United Fresh staff members Parker Linn and Andrew Marshall have transitioned into new roles within the association. Linn, who joined United Fresh in 2015 as government relations assistant, now serves as manager, industry relations for the grower-shipper community.
Marshall transitioned to the role of director, foodservice programs and foundation partnerships, adding to his portfolio all foodservice industry relations based on his work with the school foodservice community.
United Fresh also welcomes new staff members to support additional sectors of the industry. Erin Hutchinson will serve as director, supply chain relations. In her role, Hutchinson will support the fresh-cut processor community, as well as United Fresh’s supply chain logistics and service provider members. Hutchinson joins United Fresh from GVM/Independent Ag Equipment where she worked in agricultural equipment and supported growers and their partners.
Mary Alameda, a recent graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, will serve as manager, industry relations for the wholesaler-distributor community. Alameda has grown up in the produce industry with her family’s longtime grower-packer-shipper operations located in Salinas and Yuma.
Spencer Crawford will serve as manager, industry relations for the retail community. He joins United Fresh from the educational advisory board, serving multiple roles within their member services department. He also previously interned for Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming.
Finally, Natalia Gamarra joins United Fresh as manager, international member services. She has most recently worked for Produce Business Magazine, and previously worked in international membership for the Produce Marketing Association. A fluent speaker of English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, Gamarra is a native of Argentina. She will focus on supporting United Fresh members in Mexico, Central and South America.
