The Foundation for Fresh Produce names 2027 board of directors

NEWARK, Del., November 2, 2026 – The Foundation for Fresh Produce BB #:157162, the philanthropic affiliate of the International Fresh Produce Association today announced its 2027 Board of Directors, bringing together a distinguished group of produce, health and business leaders dedicated to advancing The Foundation’s mission to drive measurable outcomes for lifelong health through increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

The 2027 Board of Directors will be chaired by accomplished produce industry leader Laura Himes, Vice President of Global Sourcing, Produce at Walmart.

“I am honored to serve as Chair of The Foundation for Fresh Produce and work alongside such a dedicated group of leaders who share a passion for improving lives through the power of fruits and vegetables,” said Laura Himes, Vice President of Global Sourcing, Produce at Walmart. “The opportunity before us has never been greater. By bringing together expertise from across agriculture, health, medical, policy and philanthropic communities, we can continue to create meaningful impact that improves lives and families around the world.”

Joining Himes on the Executive Committee are Adam Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Oasis Date Gardens, serving as Chair-Elect; Jin Ju Wilder, Chief Executive Officer of Vesta Foodservice, serving as Immediate Past Chair; and April Porter, Noble Citrus and Crystal Beach Capital, serving as Secretary/Treasurer.

“I am excited to join The Foundation for Fresh Produce Board and help advance the role fruits and vegetables can play in improving health outcomes,” said Adam Cooper, CEO of Oasis Dates. “Like we see every day with dates, few foods offer the combination of great taste, variety, and health benefits that fruits and vegetables do. Our opportunity is to put the consumer at the center, while influencing the ecosystem of stakeholders that influence consumers’ food decisions. We need to make our industry’s great benefits relevant to everyday life and ultimately inspire people to eat more types of produce and eat produce more often.”

The Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to retiring board members for their years of leadership, service and dedication to advancing The Foundation’s mission.

• Dwight Ferguson, Nourse Farms
• Inci Dannenberg, Bayer
• Nikki Ford, PhD, Hass Avocado Board

“Looking back on my time with The Foundation for Fresh Produce, I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and even more excited about what lies ahead,” said Dwight Ferguson, Board member of Nourse Farms and Past Chair of The Foundation for Fresh Produce. “I am grateful for the dedication of our board, staff, partners and supporters. Laura is an exceptional leader, and I am confident she and this talented team of board members will continue building on our momentum and advancing our mission to improve human health through increased fruit and vegetable consumption.”

The 2027 Foundation new and returning directors:

• Laura Himes, Walmart, Chair
• Adam Cooper, Oasis Dates, Chair-Elect
• Jin Ju Wilder, Vesta Foodservice, Immediate Past Chair
• April Porter, Noble Citrus and Crystal Beach Capital, Secretary/Treasurer

At-Large Directors

• Stacy Bates, MS, RDN, LD, CDE, SPAN Health Strategies
• Steve Brazeel, SunTerra, Elevated Foods, Project Food Box 
• Imke van Gasselt, Ahold Delhaize 
• Eileen Hyde, Vermont Food Bank 
• Jacob Krempel, Baldor
• Cedric Pauwels, Greenyard 
• Leslie Wada, PhD, RD, US Highbush Blueberry Council 
• Amy Yaroch, PhD, Center for Nutrition and Impact 

The Foundation will translate the proven health value of fruits and vegetables into action—advancing child nutrition education, strengthening nutrition literacy, accelerating Food is Medicine partnerships and equipping more people with trusted resources that make eating fruits and vegetables easier. By uniting leaders across health care, policy, philanthropy, research and the fresh produce supply chain, The Foundation is working to make fruits and vegetables a defining force in improving health at every stage of life.

About The Foundation for Fresh Produce
The Foundation for Fresh Produce is growing a healthier world by changing the trajectory of human health. We believe fruits and vegetables are the answer and we must remove barriers that prevent people from eating them. The Foundation boosts the appeal of fruits and vegetables as an integral part of people’s diets, improves access, nurtures passionate fruit and vegetable professionals, and scales partner programs that strengthen our collective global impact. To join in changing the trajectory of human health, visit www.freshproduce.com/foundation to learn more and donate. For consumer inspiration and professional nutrition education, go to www.fruitsandveggies.org.

Contact: Ashley Sempowski, media@freshproduce.com; Katie Calligaro, kcalligaro@freshproduce.com