Fruit Patch - Press Room

Fruit Patch in the News

 

Fruit Patch Names New CEO

Dinuba, California - April 26, 2012 - Fruit Patch, a Dinuba, CA-based provider of management, packing and marketing services for growers of apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, pomegranates, persimmons, Asian pears and specialty citrus announced the appointment of Jim Gallagher as chief executive officer, effective April 30.

Mr. Gallagher is currently general manager and executive vice president of revenue of "organicgirl" brand salads, which is owned by NewStar Fresh LLC in Salinas, CA.

Before joining organicgirl in 2007, Mr. Gallagher was vice president of global sales for Chiquita Brands. As vice president of sales at FreshExpress, he was a key member of the team that built FreshExpress revenues from $150 million to $1.5 billion and led to the Chiquita purchase of that company in 1997. He also held positions with Willow Foods, Kraft and Procter & Gamble earlier in his career.

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Fruit Patch Announces Scholarship Program

Dinuba, California – January 16, 2012 – FRUIT PATCH will award a total of $10,000.00 in scholarships to four local area highschool seniors. The Fruit Patch Scholarship Program was created to assist these students achieve their educational goals. One student from each of the following schools will be selected to receive a $2,500 scholarship:

• Dinuba High School
• Immanuel High School
• Parlier High School
• Reedley High School

 

 

Fruit Patch names chief operating officer

Food industry veteran Bill Byers has been named the new chief operating officer/chief financial officer for Fruit Patch Inc., Dinuba, Calif. He joins the company Nov. 21, succeeding Doug Reader who has accepted the position of CFO with South Beach Diet, Bonita Springs, Fla. Byers, who comes to the California grower-packer-shipper from Foundation Partners Group LLC, Tampa, Fla., where he was the CFO, is no stranger to Fruit Patch. He worked with the company in 2009 and 2010 and served three years on the board of directors.

“I’m excited about being here, very excited,” Byers said. “I was involved in developing some of the strategies, many of which have been executed quite well by Doug and the team. "Those strategies include a better balance in the portfolio of customers and in terms of using the Fruit Patch facility year-round, he said.

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Fruit Patch's new COO addresses the company's future

DINUBA, CA -- Doug Reader, chief financial officer of Fruit Patch Inc., here, and its sister company Fruit Patch Sales LLC was recently named chief operating officer in addition to his responsibilities as CFO.

The announcement was made in a Fruit Patch press release Dec. 29, just days after the Dec. 20 departure of the company's president, Scott Wallace, although Mr. Reader told The Produce News that he had been designated COO before Mr. Wallace left. Reasons for Mr. Wallace's departure were not mentioned.

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CFO of the Year Winner: Doug Reader, Fruit Patch

Robert Half International is pleased to partner with the Visalia Chamber of Commerce for the first annual CFO of the Year Award which honors a top financial officer for his or her outstanding fiscal leadership and asset management. "Robert Half and the Visalia Chamber are committed to enriching the local business community. It is a natural partnership which will only continue to serve the needs of Visalia businesses," explains Joy M. Phillips, J.D., branch manager for Robert Half International.

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