INDEX FRESH APPOINTS GIUSEPPE BONFIGLIO AS FIELDMAN

BLOOMINGTON, CA— Dana Thomas, president of Index Fresh, announced today the appointment of Giuseppe Bonfiglio as Fieldman for the company in Santa Barbara and San Luis Opbispo counties. “Giuseppe brings his valuable experience of avocado ranching to the Index Fresh position. His hands-on experience gives him a unique understanding of growers and their specialized needs within the industry,” Thomas said.

A California native, Bonfiglio is first generation to the U.S.; his family is originally from Italy. He first lived in San Bernardino County, then moved to Santa Clarita, located in Los Angeles County. Since attending UCSB, where he studied business economics and international studies, he has lived in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. He has worked in the produce industry in Arroyo Grande for the past four years.

Bonfiglio has travelled extensively throughout Europe and Central America. He is bilingual, and is fluent in Italian as well as English. He will be working with growers in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

When recently asked about his appointment as Fieldman to the company he said, “I have spent the last four years learning about the industry from the grower’s side of the market. I consider this a wonderful opportunity to coordinate the skills I have learned about the farming industry together, to help address the growers’ growing need for information about the rapidly changing industry. I am looking forward to the challenges of this position, and to expanding my knowledge, while growing with Index Fresh.”

Index Fresh, Inc. is a grower-owned packing, marketing and shipping company located in Bloomington, CA. Index Fresh remains strongly committed to keeping Index growers, customers and trading partners on the cutting edge of the produce industry. The company distributes premium avocados and Asian pears from California to New York, and supplies large retailers, small specialty retailers, and food service.

Index Fresh has been in business since 1914, and became a cooperative in 1929. In 1991 Index Fresh entered the import avocado business to supplement the high demand and to broaden the California base, offering year-round avocados to its customers. Imports are from Chile and Mexico. The firm incorporated in 1999.