Naturipe Farms has announced in a press statement the appointment of Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Lopes to the newly created position of vice-president of sales for the US West Coast, effective 22 August 2011.
In his role, Lopes will be responsible for leading the corporate wide strawberry selling activities and supervising the West Coast account management teams located in Salinas, California, and Wenatchee, Washington State.
His initial focus will be to grow overall strawberry sales, expand sales of all berries to the existing client base and develop new business opportunities within the West Coast-based retail, foodservice and wholesale channel.
“We are thrilled to have Vince join our senior management team, he is a seasoned berry professional who is well respected and highly regarded in the California strawberry industry and the trade”, said Dwight Ferguson, CEO and president of Naturipe Farms.
“His extensive insight and knowledge will be a tremendous asset as we continually strive to be the customers and consumers first choice for health, best tasting premium berries.”
Lopes said he is excited about the new opportunity, particularly the chance to represent a mature organic programme, which he has not done in the past.
“Early in my career I saw the opportunity for category growth when the Albion variety became available,” he explained.
“ I have that same level of excitement with Naturipe’s commitment to their proprietary berry breeding programs (for all berries) to be sold under the Naturipe Selections label.”
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