Matthew Hayes joined the Fresh Produce & Floral Council as a program and events director. He was with the California Workforce Association the past five years. Hayes fills the role of Emma McBride Taylor, who served as the event and communications specialist the past five years.
Duda Farm Fresh Foods made changes to the sales and marketing team. Alan Ediger was hired as vice president of sales to lead commodity and value-added product line sales strategy. He previously worked at California Giant Berry Farms, Dole Fresh and Dole Berry Co. Jeff Goodale was promoted to senior vice president of strategy and business development. Goodale has been with Duda for 19 years, recently as a senior director of sales, strategy and analysis.
Dümmen Orange North America made staff changes. Sarah Thompson was hired as western region sales manager. Based in Boise, Idaho, she has 20 years of experience as an instructor at College of Western Idaho and Franz Witte Nursery. Michelle McElhannon was hired as the new technical specialist. She has worked in plant propagation, crop protection products and plant nutrition for over 20 years. McElhannon is based in North Carolina. Tim Clark was promoted to U.S. national sales manager to oversee the company’s customers, broker companies and sales representatives. Clark is based in Cincinnati. 
Chef, cookbook author and television host Pati Jinich was named the first avocado cooking ambassador for Avocados From Mexico. In the new role, Jinich will encourage innovation with fresh avocados for shoppers and culinary professionals. Her first set of recipes will be released during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Washington Apple Commission named Michael Schadler president. He was previously with the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, and the Florida Tomato Committee. Schadler spent his first day in the new role in meetings with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in Washington.
The Delta Independent Science Board named Dr. Inge Werner chair for a two-year term. The group provides independent oversight of scientific programs that support the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. She succeeds Lisa Wainger, who completed her term as chair Aug. 31.
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Pedro Aguilar Niño joined Camposol as avocado business unit senior manager. He will oversee the company’s avocado operations, including locations in Peru and Colombia, the strategy for purchase of fruit and the fresh and frozen categories. Niño was president and CEO of Fresh Directions International, a leading Hass avocado production and export firm in North America.
Anne Knapke joined the Meridian Institute and the Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation as senior director. She will focus on collaboration between stakeholders in climate, food and agriculture. Knapke has worked at USDA since 2021 as deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations and most recently as deputy chief of staff.
FMC president Darren Dillenbeck was elected to a two-year team as chair of the CropLife America board. Dillenbeck previously was vice chair of the association’s executive committee. He succeeds Andy Lee, president and CEO of Valent USA, who chaired the board in 2022-24.
The Interior Department tapped Anne Hawke as deputy director of the Office of Communications to lead digital and internal communications. Hawke was most recently at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Fifth-generation Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury was elected president of the Public Lands Council at the group’s annual meeting. He owns and operates a ranch in Howard, Colorado, where his family has been ranching for nearly 150 years. Before the election, Canterbury was president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and chaired the Colorado Public Lands Council.
Genevieve O’Sullivan joined National Waste and Recycling Association as chief of communications and senior vice president of communications. She had led communications at CropLife America. O’Sullivan began her career in the waste and recycling industry.
Richard Oarr, 61, of Alexandria died at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital on Aug. 12, and a celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Falls Church, Virginia. Oarr is survived by his wife Anne Simmons, staff director for the minority staff on the House Agriculture Committee, and other family members.
Farm publications pioneer Roy Reiman died Sept. 16. He was 90. Roy graduated from Iowa State University in 1957 with a degree in agricultural journalism and founded Reiman Publications in 1965. Based in Greendale, Wisconsin, his company grew to the largest subscription-supported publishing firm in the United States with no ads in his glossy publications. It eventually grew to 14 national magazines with more than 16.3 million paid subscribers. His early successes included Farm Building News and Farm Wife News and Farm & Ranch Living. But his largest was Taste of Home, a cooking magazine with more than 5.3 million subscribers. Roy and his wife, Bobbi, invested time and resources in their alma mater, supporting the construction of Reiman Gardens, the alumni center and the completion of the Jack Trice Stadium end zone.
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