Giumarra Opens New Division, Expands Staff

LOS ANGELES – July 12, 2010 – Mr. John Corsaro, Executive Vice President of the Giumarra Companies, announced today that Giumarra will be opening a new division, Giumarra Southeast, to focus on marketing vegetables and melons from the southeastern region of the U.S. This new division will also be responsible for imports from South America into the eastern U.S.

Giumarra Southeast will be based in Boca Raton, Fla. and will be headed by Gary Sargent.

Mr. Sargent noted that he was returning to a company that he both knows and respects. He previously worked for Giumarra with the West Coast Chilean division. He was also a buyer with Kroger and more recently employed with Southern Specialties.

“We already offer a line of quality vegetables and melons from Mexico, and we are looking forward to expanding our product line with items from domestic growers,” says John Corsaro. “Given Gary’s previous experience with us, he is also very familiar with our growers and exporters in South America.”

Mr. Sargent will also assist with the development of the Giumarra Borquez sales team and procurement of its off-shore green asparagus, primarily from Peru. Giumarra Borquez is a year round supplier of imported asparagus. Gary will work closely with the East Coast and West Coast sales teams to coordinate and implement programs with customers.

“I'm excited about these new opportunities and delighted to be offered the opportunity to work for Giumarra again. I'm looking forward to taking the lead on building grower and customer relationships with these new ventures,” says Sargent.

“Gary will be responsible for managing the flow of product from our international partners to the U.S. and Canadian markets,” says Bruce Dowhan, General Manager of Giumarra Borquez. “Providing a consistent supply of high quality Nature’s Partner® asparagus will be the foundation for programs with our customers.”

Giumarra is also adding Ben Reilly as Midwest Business Development Manager to its Marketing department. Reilly has a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the University of Queensland, Australia. He came to Giumarra from the PMA FIT program and he most recently worked with the company’s Giumarra VBM berry division. Reilly will begin his new position on July 19 and will initially be based in Nogales, Ariz.

“We are eager to continue expanding our business in the Midwest region. Ben has a very good understanding of the supply chain and with his degree in agricultural business he will be an asset to our team,” says Hillary Brick, Senior V.P. Marketing of Giumarra.

Source: The Guimarra Companies 

Photo: Ben Reilly (left) and Gary Sargent