Produce Processing 7: Q+A with Jeff Brandenburg

Jeffrey S. Brandenburg is the president of the JSB Group, which provides expertise in a wide variety of packaging and equipment technologies.

He has more than three decades of experience in packaging, including serving as vice president of marketing and technical services with New England Extrusion and service as technical director for other companies.

Brandenburg serves on the food safety and technology council of the United Fresh Produce Association and is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars on packaging technology.

What are the best words of advice you’ve received?

My grandfather told me, ‘No matter how scientific and technical your education, training and career may be,
communication, both written and oral, is still your most important life skill.’

What are your goals for the next 12 months?

To continue to grow the company both domestically as well as internationally.

What do you do to relax?

Fly fish, hike, read and spend time with my family.

What would you like to be your lasting legacy?

That my family is a priority to me and that through my career efforts, more people globally had easy and affordable access to good quality and safe fresh fruits and vegetables.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

Travel to Alaska. Travel to Hawaii. Own my own wooden antique cruising boat.

What job or work would you have pursued if you had not become involved in the produce processing industry?

In the biomedical engineering field designing and developing polymer body parts, heart valves, hips, joints, etc.

What is the one truth you’ve learned about the produce processing industry?

It is the most close-knit industry of all of the food markets that I have worked in.