Tonya Antle, a leader in California’s organic farming industry, is retiring at the end of the year.
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Antle |
For nearly three decades, Antle has been a leader in the growth of the organic produce sector, the past 13 years at Earthbound Farm, San Juan Bautista, Calif.
Antle recently became an adjunct professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. In recognition of her work, Earthbound Farm is awarding a $5,000 scholarship to a woman studying organic agriculture in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, according to a news release.
“It has been such an amazing journey here at Earthbound Farm,” Antle said in the release. “It’s now time to pay forward all my great experiences by teaching, coaching and mentoring the next generation of produce talent. That’s the inspiration for my next phase.”
Craig Hope, who joined Earthbound Farm in the new position of chief consumer officer July 7, will oversee the sales department, according to the release.
He brings to Earthbound Farm more than 20 years of experience in consumer packaged goods sales organizations
Hope comes to Earthbound Farm from Distant Lands Coffee, Renton, Wash., where he was president of sales. Previously, he was customer vice president at Kraft Foods Inc., Northfield, Ill., and its subsidiary, Nabisco, East Hanover, N.J.
“I have long admired Earthbound Farm and what the company stands for,” Hope said in a statement released by the company. “There are some fabulous opportunities ahead with the continued expansion of consumer interest in organic food and I’m excited to help lead Earthbound Farm’s initiatives to capitalize on those opportunities.”
Antle joined the Earthbound Farm in 1998 as vice president of organic sales. Her current title is trade ambassador for Earthbound Farm.