黑料福利社

Eric Patrick has been appointed president of the Washington State Fruit Commission, taking over leadership of the聽Yakima-based marketing organization on March 2.

Patrick will oversee marketing efforts for cherries and canned pears grown in the Pacific Northwest as well as the commission鈥檚 industry education programs. He succeeds longtime president B.J. Thurlby, who retired Dec. 31 after 30 years with the commission.

Board chairman Doug Field said in a that Patrick brings decades of experience in the fresh produce industry to his new job.

鈥淓ric has a deep understanding of our industry. He has helped to market cherries, he鈥檚 helped to develop new programs, he understands sales and marketing and has relationships with many of the key players in our industry and with Northwest Cherries,鈥� Field stated. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to bring him on board.鈥�

Patrick has spent the past 20 years as marketing director for the Grant J. Hunt Co., a West Coast-based distributor and wholesaler of conventional and organic fresh produce with distribution throughout North America, where he also has worked closely with Northwest Cherries on cherry promotions.

He also operated a marketing division that offered services ranging from print, logo and advertising design to category management.

Patrick has worked closely with Tajin seasonings, a Mexican spice mix company based in Guadalajara. He has worked with the Tajin produce alliance team setting up promotions, collaborations and demos throughout North America and will continue in this capacity.

He previously spent two years as marketing director for Domex Superfresh Growers. Prior to that, he spent seven years with the Washington State Fruit Commission, first in sales for the commission鈥檚 educational magazine, Good Fruit Grower, then as the marketing director for North America for Northwest Cherries and the Washington State Fruit Commission.

In the news release, Patrick stated he always enjoyed his work at the commission and hopes to continue strengthening collaborations within the industry to serve growers.

鈥淚 really believe in Northwest cherries and want to help growers to get recognition for what I think are the best cherries in the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working with the team, which has seen some award-winning campaigns in recent years, and build on those successes.鈥�

The push for healthier diets worldwide also presents fresh openings for marketing and sales growth, Patrick said.

鈥淚 know the commission has been working on those health messages, and I see opportunities to work even more closely with the retailers, who are working with their own nutritionists and dietitians,鈥� he added.

In part-time roles, Patrick has served as the tourism director for the city of Union Gap and as an instructor in the advertising and marketing programs at 黑料福利社 College. He continues to be a regular speaker at the college.

The Washington State Fruit Commission handles domestic and international marketing of sweet cherries for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah through Northwest Cherries, as well as marketing for canned pears grown in Washington and Oregon.

The commission also oversees two federal marketing orders for Washington cherries and processed pears. To meet its mission of grower education, the commission hosts the annual Cherry Institute event to provide the latest horticultural research and market insights for growers, and publishes Good Fruit Grower magazine. For more information, visit .