Calgene Fresh Gets President
the agricultural biotechnology company here, has named Danilo Lopez president of its fresh produce subsidiary, Calgene Fresh, Evanston, Ill.
Lopez will oversee the company's full-scale distribution later this year of the genetically altered Flavr Savr tomato.
Lopez has worked in the produce industry for more than 20 years. For the last two years, he ran his own consulting company. Prior to that he spent five years as vice president and general manager of fresh products for Calavo Growers, Santa Ana, Calif. For 13 years before joining Calavo he worked for Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif.
Lopez fills the position that had been occupied temporarily by Rod Stacey, chief operating officer of Calgene, who assumed the responsibilities after a restructuring at Calgene Fresh last spring.
David Oppenheimer Appoints Marketer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- David Oppenheimer Group here has named Ricks Eastes director of marketing for South and Central America and Mexico, a new position.
Eastes is responsible for developing and managing market strategy for Chilean and Argentinian programs in North America. He is also responsible for developing markets in North America for Central American and Mexican products.
Eastes reports to John Anderson, chief executive officer. Eastes was director of marketing services for Suma Fruit International, Sanger, Calif.
Fresh International Exec Resigns
SALINAS, Calif. -- Bruce Taylor has resigned as co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of Fresh International Corp. here, parent company of Fresh Express Farms. His brother, Steve Taylor, who had shared both positions, is now in sole possession of them. According to industry sources, the changes are due to a conflict in management styles between the two executives. According to sources at Fresh International, Bruce Taylor plans to pursue other interests but will retain his position on the board of directors.
Bruce Taylor joined the company in 1981 and helped build the fresh-cut business with his father, Ted. He is credited with building the company's five regional processing plants. Steve Taylor joined Fresh International in 1987. Before taking over the top position with his brother, he had served as president of retail marketing for Fresh Express Farms.
Fresh International, which also operates a packaging company and wrapped-head lettuce company, has over $300 million in annual sales. Fresh Express Farms is the country's largest packaged salad company with a 40% market share.
Cooper Rejoins Del Monte as VP
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Rick Cooper has rejoined Del Monte Fresh Produce here as vice president of sales for the Northern division based in Chicago. He most recently worked for Azumaya, San Francisco, as a Midwest sales manager. He worked in that position for less than a year before returning to Del Monte.
Prior to joining Azumaya, Cooper was a regional vice president for Del Monte. Before joining the company in 1988, he worked as a produce merchandising manager for Jewel Cos., Melrose Park, Ill. In his new position he reports to Mike Pereira, vice president of North American sales and marketing.
DeLyser Quits Sun for Westlake
COACHELLA, Calif. -- Jan DeLyser has resigned as director of marketing for Sun World International here to become a sales representative for Westlake Distributors in Los Angeles. The Westlake position is new.
DeLyser joined Sun World just over a year ago. Prior to that she spent 13 years as head of the Fresh Produce and Floral Council, an organization that promotes produce and floral products to the southern California market. She will report to Dale Liefer, Westlake's president.
