Page 18 - FreshDigest Spr.24

FPFC 2024 DINNER DANCE Saturday, February 24, 2024 Newport Beach, CA The Fresh Produce & Floral Council hosted the Dinner Dance, A NAUTICAL NIGHT OUT on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, California. There were over 330 members in attendance. The evening’s guest list included retail attendees from 99 Cents Only, Albertsons, Bristol Farms, Gelsons, Grocery Outlet, Northgate Markets, Raley’s, Ralphs, Stater Bros. Markets, The Save Mart Companies, Smart & Final, Super King Market and Vallarta Supermarkets. The evening began with a VIP reception for the Board of Directors, sponsors, planning committee and retailers attending the event. The general reception hosted a beauty photobooth and specialty drinks. The Dinner Dance traditionally ushers in the new FPFC Board of Directors and thanks those who are retiring from the board fortheirservice.Thisyearthoseretiringwere: SeanMcClure, Professional Produce; Mil Mijanovic, Safeway and Neil Merritt, Pairwise. The $10K Grand Prize winner of the raffle was Ana Coronado from Avocados From Mexico. Following the dinner programming, guests enjoyed a casino night and coffee bar, and many stayed on the dance floor the entire evening. 2023 Chair Michael Schutt of Bay Area Herbs & Specialties passes the gavel to 2024 Chair, Kristen Reid of MIXTEC Group. 18 FPFC 2024 Board of Directors Kristen Reid of MIXTEC Group, Paige Venable of Vallarta Supermarkets, Natalie J. Machado of FreshSource, Rachelle Schulken of Calavo, Michelle Allen-Ziegler of Pactiv, Alex Jackson of Frieda’s, Veronica Rodarte of Progressive Produce; Michael Schutt of Bay Area Herbs & Specialties, Brad Martin of Perimeter Sales & Merchandising, Andrew Bivens of Westlake Produce Co., Lynnie Nojadera of Great West Produce Co., Debi Orrin of Edge Sales + Retail Services, Ryan Sanchez of Albertsons, Baltazar Garcia of Local Bounti and Kori Martin of Oppy. Not pictured: Bryan Presley of Albertsons, Roger Schroeder, Marvin Quebec of Quebec Distributing Co., Caitlin Tierney of 99 Cents Only, Daniel Bell of Grocery Outlet, Jacob Cadwallader of Stater Bros. Markets, Myisha Nathaniel of Raley’s.