In the US, fresh produce giant Chiquita Brands International has appointed Courtney Parker as its new vice-president of food safety and quality.
The multinational revealed that Parker would have responsibility for Chiquita's Fresh Express salad quality assurance and quality control programmes, as well as global responsibility to serve as Chiquita's primary liaison with regulatory agencies and other industry stakeholders, coordinating cross-functionally for the company's bananas and salads business units.
'Courtney is highly regarded and respected by all stakeholders across the fresh produce industry,' said Brian Kocher, Chiquita's chief operating officer. 'We are confident that her extensive operational experience, coupled with her scientific background and understanding of our commitment to food safety and quality, will help us deliver superior product quality consistently at the shelf.'
Most recently, Parker served as head of quality assurance, food safety and regulatory affairs for Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms, and also acted as senior scientific advisor to their sister company, Gills Onions, providing the strategic vision and technical guidance for its quality, food safety and sanitary standards and practices.
