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Al Vangelos Honored as Produce Man For All Seasons
Las Vegas, Nevada, April 22, 2009—Al Vangelos received top honors at the 2009 United Fresh Produce Association’s annual conference. With a career spanning over five decades of innovation in the field, Vangelos was named Produce Man for All Seasons, by The Packer, a produce industry newspaper.
The prestigious award was given during the general breakfast session of the conference held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. “I have sat in this audience many years, watching this award being given out to others…I never thought it would be me, and I am honored by this award,” Vangelos acknowledged, as he received the award from The Packer’s editor, Greg Johnson.
Vangelos’ extraordinary achievements are highlighted by the fact that this particular honor has not been given to anyone since 1997. He has thirty-five years experience in fresh and processed food products marketing and sales, capped by 11-years as President and CEO of Sun World International in Bakersfield, California, the world’s largest avocado cooperative.
His career began in 1956 at Birds Eye, a division of General Foods. He joined Dole in 1962 and then moved to Calavo Growers in 1986, where his achievement of turning a cooperative into a profitable business is now legend in the industry. He retired in 2000, but was not content to rest on his laurels; he soon opened his own business and returned to full-time work, and entered into his second career, which has been just as full, if not moreso, than his first.
Vangelos is best known for his innovative skills and his ability to successfully restructure and energize companies. He has served in many capacities, some of which include: President and CEO of Calavo Growers of California; Workout Consultant for Rabobank; President, International Diversifed Business & Fresh Marketing for Dole Foods, and President of The Impact Corporate Group. He has additionally served as Chairman of the Russian Farm Project, where he consulted with growers in Russia to identify markets and product requirements, designed a packing and distribution center, and improved governance of the association.
Currently, he is co-founder and principal of Novelle Consulting, LLC, a leading management consulting group in the global produce industry. This group offers solutions to supply chain, sales and marketing, and food safety problems both in the private and government sectors. |
