Duda Farm Fresh Foods SVP of Sales and Marketing Rick Alcocer is retiring after a 40-plus year career in the produce industry.
Alcocer began his career in the fresh produce industry following graduation from the University of Southern California in 1980, when he joined Dole Fresh Vegetables (known then as Bud Antle Inc.) as a financial analyst.
After eight years at Dole, he transitioned to Tanimura & Antle, where he spent nearly 15 years honing his skills in produce. Alcocer assumed various roles at T&A, including account executive, general sales manager and ultimately director of retail sales. In 2003, Duda welcomed him as the director of fresh sales.
During his four-decade career, Alcocer has witnessed numerous industry shifts, technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences, while navigating each change and forging enduring relationships within the industry. His ability to lead and work with others was demonstrated in his appointment as the first American chair of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (2017-2018), where he had been a board member for more than 25 years.
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“As Rick embarks on his retirement, I express our deepest appreciation for his unwavering commitment to the industry and over two decades of service at Duda Farm Fresh Foods,” said Mark Bassetti, president, Duda Farm Fresh Foods. “He has made an undeniable impact on both Duda and the produce industry at large. I wish him a future filled with well-earned rest and enjoyment.”
About Duda Farm Fresh Foods
For about 100 years, Duda Farm Fresh Foods has been a grower, shipper, processor and marketer of fresh vegetables and citrus, with primary locations in Florida, California, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DUDA, a family-owned, diversified land company headquartered in Oviedo, Florida.
