One Banana Celebrates Walmart TRUST Award
One Banana, a family-owned, vertically integrated company committed to the responsible production of high-quality bananas and natural ingredients, has been recognized by Walmart under its prestigious TRUST Award. The recognition was presented during the Produce Growth Forum held in Bentonville, Ark., and highlights One Banana’s leadership in delivering fresh, safe, and sustainably grown bananas, while advancing food safety, regenerative agriculture, and customer-focused innovation.
This honor builds on One Banana’s long-standing track record of excellence, including being named Supplier of the Year in 2013, a finalist in 2015, and recognized as Giga Gurú in Walmart’s Gigaton Project in 2023 and 2024—an initiative celebrating suppliers advancing emissions reduction and sustainability innovation.
“Being recognized once again by Walmart is a true honor, and a reflection of our commitment to doing things right,” said Rob Adams, President of One Banana. “We are proud to be part of the select group of suppliers that, year after year, stand out for their good practices. This recognition validates our main purpose: to create change for the better, One Banana at a time.”
A Shared Commitment to Regeneration and Innovation
Walmart commended One Banana’s integrated approach to sustainability, which includes:
- Pollinator Conservation: Through the Bee One for Change initiative, One Banana has established Macro-Sanctuaries that protect and conserve native bee species, directly supporting pollination and biodiversity on farms as part of a regenerative agriculture model.
- Maximizing Resources and Upcycled Innovation: One Banana maximizes the value of its harvest by reducing food waste. At its Natural Ingredients Processing Plant, surplus bananas—sustainably grown on certified plantations—are upcycled into high-quality food ingredients, including purée and flakes. In parallel, second-grade fresh bananas—those that fall short of visual appearance standards but remain of excellent quality—are supplied to Walmart’s operations in Guatemala. These actions promote the responsible use of surplus fruit and align with circular economy principles.
- Healthcare Impact: The company’s Human Development Center (HDC) was highlighted for improving health and well-being in rural communities through medical services, nutrition programs, and early childhood development.
With strategically located farms in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Peru, and robust food safety protocols, One Banana ensures a consistent supply of responsibly grown fruit while reinforcing positive impact rooted in trust, responsibility, and long-term value.
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Produce Industry Veteran O’Brien to Step Down at Driscoll’s
Driscoll’s announces the retirement of Tom O’Brien, senior vice president of global human resources & general counsel, who will step down from his leadership role early in the year. A pivotal figure in the produce industry with a career spanning more than 30 years, O’Brien leaves behind a remarkable legacy of innovation, advocacy and leadership.
O’Brien’s relationship with Driscoll’s began nearly 25 years ago when he represented the company as an attorney in Washington, D.C. In 2014, he became Driscoll’s first General Counsel, and his role steadily expanded over the years to include oversight of Global Human Resources and Public Affairs.
“Tom has been a friend, colleague and partner for over two decades. We have navigated many issues together, challenges and opportunities that continually arise in our fresh berry business,” said J. Miles Reiter, executive chairman of the board for Driscoll’s. “He is remarkably adept at seeing around the corner and articulating concepts in ways that drive clarity. While we are fully aligned on core values and goals, Tom is also the person with whom I most enjoy a healthy disagreement, something we both expect to continue to value highly.”
Before his tenure at Driscoll’s, O’Brien’s influence was already well-established at the intersection of law, policy, and agriculture. His policy work spanned issues as diverse as the development of the first federal organic standards, passage of food safety legislation, the unfinished work of immigration reform, and a host of plant pests and quarantines. From 1993 to 1999, he served as a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He then moved from the federal to the state level, where he was a policy advisor to California Governor Gray Davis in the Governor’s Washington D.C. office.
After leaving government service until joining Driscoll’s, O’Brien was in private practice in Washington, where clients included Produce Marketing Association, California nurseries and dairies, the promotion boards for mangos and avocadoes, and Driscoll’s.
“Tom’s career has been a testament to the power of collaboration and thoughtful leadership in agriculture,” said Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “He exemplifies the qualities of exceptional leadership: intelligence, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to partnership. His work has not only strengthened Driscoll’s but also elevated the entire produce industry. For the 25 years I’ve known him, I have valued his counsel and insight on complex challenges, but most of all, I have cherished his steadfast friendship.”
O’Brien will step down from the HR and legal responsibilities early in the year. During the transition, he will remain as Driscoll’s corporate secretary and counsel to the board.
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California Table Grape Commission Adds to Marketing Team
The California Table Grape Commission welcomes Lisa Massie and Alexandra Merritt to the marketing team.
As the director of international marketing for Asia, Massie will lead the marketing work in targeted export markets throughout Asia, focusing on building demand for California table grapes through the work of multiple in-country promotion teams. Massie served as the Global Marketing and Communications Specialist at Trillium Flow Technologies and brings a background in account management, business analysis, communications, and export promotion with her to the commission.
As director of global marketing, Merritt will manage retail accounts in the U.S. and will lead the marketing work in the key export markets of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, Merritt will be responsible for directing category management research. Merritt joins the commission from Root Creative Marketing where she served as Account Director and was responsible for implementing marketing campaigns for a diverse set of agriculture, food product, and lifestyle product clients.
“Both Lisa and Alexandra bring talent, drive, heart, and extensive backgrounds in account management and analysis to the commission marketing team,” said Ian LeMay, incoming California Table Grape Commission president.
“We are very pleased to welcome them to the team and look forward to the many contributions they will each make in the years to come,” said LeMay.
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