Braga to Receive Grower of the Year Award at OGS
The Organic Grower Summit presented by Western Growers and OPN will honor longtime organic grower Rod Braga as the recipient of the sixth annual Grower of the Year award. Braga, president and CEO of Braga Fresh, was selected based on his ongoing commitment and dedication to excellence in organic production, organic industry leadership, and innovation.
The Grower of the Year award, sponsored by AGCO, will be presented to Braga as part of the keynote presentation at the Organic Grower Summit on Nov. 29-30 in Monterey, Calif. The Grower of the Year presentation is part of an extensive educational program designed to inform and engage organic producers and their service providers and supply chain partners.
“We are honored to present the annual Grower of the Year award to Rod Braga — truly a grower’s grower,” said Matt Seeley, CEO of Organic Produce Network. “His decades-long work exemplifies what hardworking, passionate organic farming means to the success of Sledge, regional sales director for AGCO. Previous winners of the award have been Jeff Huckaby, CEO of Grimmway Farms (2022); Vic Smith, CEO of JV Smith Company (2021); the Lundberg Family (2019); Thaddeus Barsotti of Capay Organic (2018); and Vernon Peterson of Peterson Family Farms (2017).
The sixth annual OGS is designed to provide information vital to organic growers and producers, including an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the production of organic fresh food.
In addition to the annual Grower of the Year award, the other keynote presentation at OGS 2023 will be Grower Roundtable: The State of Organic Growing. Panelists for the keynote roundtable include leadership from three prominent organic companies, who will be announced later this month.
Other educational sessions slated for OGS 2023 include:
- SOE Deadline Looms — Are You Ready?
- Understanding Evolving Production Challenges for Organic Growers
- Regenerative — What Does it Mean for Organic?
- Unlocking the Value of AI on the Digital Farming Journey
- Meet the Ag Sharks
- Roadmap to a Sustainable Pest Management Future for Organics
- How Organic Growers Are Using Ag Tech: Obstacles & Opportunities
OGS 2023 will be held Nov. 29-30 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif., and general registration is open. The sold-out OGS trade show floor will feature soil amendment, ag tech, food safety, packaging, and equipment exhibitors who will have the opportunity to connect with organic field production staff, supply chain managers, pest management advisors, and food safety experts.
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Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival Returns After 5 Years
Hong Kong Tourism Board invites food and wine lovers from around the world to celebrate the return of the city’s large-scale outdoor culinary event, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival. The four-day festival kicks off a month-long series of exciting nightlife events taking place citywide throughout November.
Taking place from Oct. 26-29 at Victoria Harbour’s Central Harbourfront Event Space, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 will be a four-day gourmet extravaganza backdropped by the iconic city skyline. After a five-year hiatus, the physical event is back, and ready to welcome visitors to visit nearly 300 booths showcasing global food and wine,
Wine will naturally be a focus of the festival, with the popular Major Country Pavilions showcasing makers from 36 countries around the world. This year, the spotlight will be on the classic vintages from France and Italy and emerging wine regions from Thailand, Moldova and Finland. In a Festival first, a dedicated display for Chinese Wine Discovery is being introduced, featuring wine merchants including Xige Estate and Chateau Mihope from Ningxia (Northwest China), Yunnan Red Wine & Spirits, and Shandong-based Mystic Island Winery.
Visitors can indulge in a diverse array of global flavors, with dishes ranging from punchy, street food and nostalgic local favorites to refined hotel delicacies.
New to the Festival is Tasting Theatre, a series of hands-on workshops for visitors feeling inspired to roll up their sleeves and don an apron. Cooking demonstrations and workshops will be led by celebrity chef He Jiansheng from Shunde, Guangdong and award-winning Taiwanese baker Wu Pao-chun, who will join Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival for the first time.
Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 will serve as a launching pad for a month of culinary celebrations taking place around Hong Kong. Throughout November, Taste Around Town will highlight over 300 of Hong Kong’s best places to eat and drink, with exclusive discounts, limited-time menus and more that will strengthen Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s top dining destinations.
For more details about Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 – and for more ways to experience Hong Kong’s world-class food scene and nightlife, please visit the HKTB website: DiscoverHongKong.com/WineDineFestival
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Southern Glazer’s Promotes Executives; Arizona Exec Retires
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has made enhancements to National Accounts, Customer and Trade Development, National Retail Sales, Center of Excellence and eCommerce functional units. These teams continue to evolve under the National Accounts umbrella, enabling Southern Glazer’s to remain the strategic thought partner to grow these categories and gain market share.
In addition, Tom Boyle, executive vice president and general manager of Arizona, will retire effective at the end of 2023.
“Southern Glazer’s National Accounts team’s vision is to be an indispensable and trusted partner to the company’s valued customers and deliver excellence to associated buyers, suppliers, and market teams,” said Chris Williams, executive vice president, National Accounts. “This enhanced structure enables us to provide an even more collaborative and comprehensive level of service to our partners.”
Customer and Trade Development
- Ryan Sass has been promoted to vice president, Customer and Trade Development, for National Retail Sales and On Premise. In his new role, Sass will drive supplier relations and closely manage the Company’s NRS business with the support of Customer Development category experts. Sass will report to Chris Williams.
eCommerce
- Robyne Eldridge has been appointed vice president, Omni Channel Development.She will continue to lead B2C deliverables for digital first, eCommerce Business Priorities development and supplier integration. Reporting to Eldridge will beSam Raia, senior director, Omni Channel Development;DarShanna Smith senior director, Amazon; Sarah Twitchell, director, Liquor Channel;Brennan Duke, director,(Mass/Club/Drug); and Jennifer Bailein, director, Grocery. Eldridge will report to Chris Williams.
National Retail Sales (NRS)
- JR Allen has been promoted to vice president, NRS Commercial Operations. In his new role, he will work directly with each region’s Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, with a focus on forecasting, inventory and execution. He will report to Scott Moore, senior vice president, National Accounts Off Premise.
- Nicole Nottinghamhas been appointed to senior director, GoBrands. She will strengthen and foster national strategy and connect with NRS supplier planning process Customer Business Priorities. She will report to Scott Moore.
Center of Excellence (COE)
- Adam Byrne has been appointed vice president, Customer Planning and Development COE. The COE will focus on “Elevate,” the company’s program that offers customers branded merchandising recommendations, large and small format channel development and Southern Glazer’s unique suite of Retail Joint Business Planning process and tools. Byrne recently joined the company and will report to Chris Williams.
Boyle is a longtime Southern Glazer’s employee.
“During his 40-year tenure, Tom has made a tremendous positive impact on the success of the company, as well as the professional success of our employees,” said John Wittig, chief commercial officer. “His best-in-class leadership has made him a role model in Arizona and beyond. We’ll miss him greatly and will forever appreciate his many contributions to the company.”
“Tom’s exceptional dedication to fostering a workplace culture where authenticity thrives has been a true cornerstone of Arizona’s success,” commented Patrick Daul, president, West Region. “In addition to this, his commitment to innovation transformed the market into a hub for pioneering pilot programs, from industry-leading electric vehicle testing to the introduction of a unique convenience store concept. These contributions have positioned us at the forefront of progress, leaving an indelible mark for years to come.”
In 1983, Boyle began his career in beverage alcohol as a salesperson for Southern Wine and Spirits in San Diego. After years of hard work expanding the company’s supplier portfolio, Boyle was promoted to on-premise division manager in 1989. Shortly after, Boyle led Southern Wine and Spirits in entering its fourth market in Arizona, where he served as Southern Arizona branch manager.
After helping lead significant growth for the business and working in roles of increasing responsibility, Boyle accepted the position of general sales manager of Arizona and spent the next 18 years working alongside Michael Jahn and the Arizona team to make Southern Wine and Spirits the number one distributor in Arizona. Upon Jahn’s retirement in 2019, Boyle stepped into his most recent role as executive vice president and general manager of Arizona.
“As Tom embarks on a new chapter in life, we express our deep appreciation for his service and wish him a retirement filled with much happiness and health,” said Wayne E. Chaplin, chief executive officer. “His legacy will continue to inspire us, and his presence will be missed.”
An announcement for Boyle’s replacement will be forthcoming. Boyle will remain on the team to ensure a seamless transition and support the leader who will be replacing him.
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