Friesland, Wisconsin — Alsum Farms & Produce is pleased to announce Wendy Alsum-Dykstra and Christine Lindner were named 2019 Produce Business 40-Under-Forty award winners. The award recognizes the produce industry’s top young leaders. Honorees are selected based on their professional accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, industry, and community contributions.
“We are honored to have two associates be among this year’s class of Produce Business 40-Under-Forty award winners,” says Larry Alsum, President & CEO of Alsum Farms and Produce, Inc. “Our success over the past 45 years is because of a great team of Alsum employees who are dedicated to serving our customers every day.”
Wendy Alsum-Dykstra serves as Chief Operating Officer of Logistics and Maintenance for Alsum Farms and Produce in Friesland. Wendy grew up working in the business, alongside her father, Larry Alsum, sister Heidi and other family members, where she worked grading potatoes in middle school and later assisted in sales, administrative and accounting support in high school and college. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Masters of Professional Accountancy degree, Wendy worked as an auditor for Grant Thornton, LLP, but found herself drawn back to the family business. Wendy jointly lead Alsum’s ERP implementation and is actively focused on continuous process improvement to package and deliver quality potatoes, onions, and other fresh fruits and vegetable to Alsum customers every day. Wendy currently serves on Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Audit Committee and formerly served on the PMA’s Budget and Finance Committee. She was a member of the 2019 Potato Industry Leadership Institute.
Christine Lindner serves as Marketing Manager at Alsum Farms & Produce, the innovative Wisconsin grower, packer and shipper of potatoes, onions and provider of fresh, quality produce. Christine grew up on her family’s fourth generation dairy farm and graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural journalism. In 2010, she served as Wisconsin’s 63rd Alice in Dairyland. As Wisconsin’s agriculture ambassador, she communicated how the state’s diverse agriculture industry strengthens local communities, economies and benefits every Wisconsinite. She joined Alsum Farms & Produce in 2013 to serve national accounts and execute marketing and public relations. Christine now manages the brand, trade shows, events, promotional materials, public relations, website and social media. She has held leadership roles in the Association of Women in Agriculture, National Agri-Marketing Association and the Wisconsin Association of FFA. Christine has been bestowed the American FFA Degree, Honorary Wisconsin FFA Degree and the Wisconsin FFA Distinguished Service Award. Christine currently serves as the Promotions Chair for the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.
Wendy and Christine will be recognized at an award ceremony at 2019 PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, California in October. Click here to read Wendy’s and Christine’s full interviews.
To learn more about Alsum Farms & Produce, its full-line of products or for delicious potato recipes, visit www.alsum.com.
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About Alsum Farms & Produce
Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc., is a grower, packer and shipper of potatoes, re-packer of onions and a wholesale distributor of a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables. Headquartered in Friesland, Wisconsin, Alsum Farms is also a member of the eco-friendly Wisconsin Healthy Grown® Potato Program.
