Sep 6, 2013

Riveridge adds staff in management roles

Riveridge Produce, a Sparta, Mich.-based apple shipper, has added three staff members to manage various aspects of the operation.

“We were fortunate to hang onto almost all of our talent during a very challenging 2012 season,” Don Armock, CEO of Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc., said in a news release. “Now we are making some adjustments to best address the needs of our grower-partners and the marketplace.”

Jamie Kober, of Sparta, has been promoted from line manager to overall plant manager of Riveridge’s new packing plant. He has been with Riveridge since 2010. Kober was involved in bringing the Riveridge packing plant online three years ago. He is experienced in computerized quality systems including near-infrared (NIR) internal and external defect sorting technology.

New as Riveridge Land Co.’s production manager is Washington state native Ian Mortensen. Mortensen, of Rockford, Mich. was active in his family’s fruit and asparagus farm in the Yakima Valley of Washington, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force and ultimately settling in West Michigan.

Mortensen’s responsibilities include managing all aspects of fruit production from orchard establishment through harvest on Riveridge-owned and -leased properties.

Also new to Riveridge as marketing manager is Denise Donohue, former executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. Donohue is working on marketing initiatives and new product development to strengthen the Riveridge brand, and working to grow market share and consumer loyalty.

The apple grower/packer/shipper sells apples in up to 26 states and a dozen foreign countries.