Dec 13, 2022

Dan Harrington retires from Superfresh growers after 28 years

After nearly three decades on the Superfresh Growers sales team, account manager Dan Harrington plans to retire at the end of the year.

Harrington was one of the first employees at Domex Marketing, joining family owners Ed Kershaw and his nephew Robert Kershaw in 1994. According to company legend, Harrington showed up day after day until “they had to give him the job,” according to a news release.

As the longest-tenured salesperson ever hired by the Kershaw family, it is safe to say that Harrington set a standard for the Superfresh sales team that continues to be unmatched,” according to the release. “He instilled a standard of care and dedication to his customers. He has invested countless hours into coaching sales associates, and has led and modeled the importance of customer relationships.”

Paul Newstead, director of business development, called Harrington an “institution” at Superfresh Growers.

“He is seen as much of a fixture at Superfresh Growers as Robert (Kershaw). His quality of character and purity of purpose have defined the sales ethos of this company,” Newstead said in the release. “Every single employee on our sales team, past and present, has in some way, shape, or form, been guided by Dan.”

At Harrington’s 20-year anniversary celebration more than eight years ago, former CEO Ed Kershaw said he set the bar on how to be a salesman.

“It is the people like Dan who took a chance on the company back when it was nothing but a dream and have turned it into the industry powerhouse it is today,” Ed Kershaw said.

“When I joined the sales team, Robert gave me a Produce Blue Book and I started calling. I combed through that thing every day looking for people to call. It was our bible,” Harrington said in the release.

Over three decades, Harrington prioritized calling customers daily and has built a rapport with retail customers, especially In Canada.

“If they only knew the earnestness with which Dan thought of their business,” Newstead said in the release. “He appreciated their attention and partnership, and honored their trust. There has yet to be a salesperson here, or anywhere I have witnessed, that calls all his customers every Friday to thank them for the business of that week, and to ask what more he can do next week.”

Harrington spent years working with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, and has been on that group’s marketing committee for the past six years.

Harrington graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies. He started his career in the concrete industry, but soon found his passion was in produce working for the Kershaw family.

He passed his passion for working for Superfresh Growers to his three sons, who have each taken on integral roles within the company. His oldest, John, started working for the Kershaw family in his young teens, stacking 50-pound bags of lime. Twins Sean and Danny started a few years later on the production line. John is now operations manager, Sean is production coordinator, and Danny is sales assistant.

“I am very proud of what we were able to build here over the past 28 years,” Dan Harrington said in the release. “I also know that with the young, smart, energetic and dynamic team we have in place right now that trajectory will continue. It has been a tremendous ride. I have wonderful memories of all the people I have met along the way.

“Thank you, Kershaw family, for allowing me to come aboard all those years ago and allowing my three boys to continue the adventure. I will be forever grateful.”

On Dec. 10, Harrington’s legacy was celebrated at the Superfresh Christmas party. He became the fourth employee added to the Superfresh Growers Hall of Fame; a tribute to an absolute legend.

Superfresh Growers and the Kershaw family wish Dan Harrington the best as he enjoys retirement.

Top photo: Dan Harrington, pictured at a company party to celebrate his 20th anniversary at Superfresh Growers, is retiring after almost 30 years there. Photo: Superfresh Growers.