Bridges Produce is excited to welcome Rodrigo Velasquez to its sales and marketing team. “Rodrigo will help round out our sales team here and will manage some grower relations. We are very excited to bring his wide range of experience throughout many growing regions and produce categories,” says Ben Johnson, president.
Velasquez comes to Bridges after 22 years in the fresh produce industry and a childhood spent on a farm in Chile. “I’ve been around agriculture since I was a kid. I remember being a 12-year-old boy driving the farm tractor and my interest in produce never really stopped after that,” he said. In 2001 Velasquez started his produce career inspecting incoming vessels in the Port of Philadelphia and after a longtime interest in organics, he became an organic retail buyer in 2007. For him, knowing that farm workers are not being exposed to pesticides while working to grow organic fruits and vegetables is one of the most important benefits of representing organics.
Left to right: Rodrigo Velasquez, Ben Johnson.
“I really like the people who work at Bridges and their commitment to organic agriculture,” said Velasquez. “I am excited about connecting with growers and some good old friends from the retail world. I feel that I am at a point where the most productive years of my career are ahead and I look forward to working with the vibrant organic community!”
“He has great technical knowledge of produce and is a great communicator and facilitator,” said Johnson. “That will be a valuable service to both our grower network as well as retail customers. His enthusiasm is contagious!”
Velasquez can be reached at rodrigo@bridgesproduce.com or (971) 266-6906.
For more information:
Sydney Fairchild
Bridges Produce
Tel: +1 (503) 235-7333
sydney@bridgesproduce.com
www.bridgesproduce.com