Tom Russell is President and CEO of Pacific International Marketing, which is the parent company of Dynasty Farms and Pure Pacific Organics. His duties involve future planning for the upcoming seasons and strategic planning. He has been in the produce business for 34 years and still finds each day a new challenge.

 

 

Fresh: Give us a brief description of your company.

TR: Pacific International Marketing started in 1989 and is today one of the industry's leading produce companies. We are involved in the growing, packing, shipping and processing of more than 100 different commodities. Our company is an employee-owned company with 18 stockholders who are involved in all aspects of our business.

Fresh: Can you describe your company's products and services a little further?

TR: We farm fruits and vegetables in Arizona, California and Mexico, both organically and conventionally. We are also a processor, cooling company and harvesting company, in addition to the farming. Basically, from seed to the consumer's door, we can fulfill all those requirements.

Fresh: How has your company evolved through the years to meet changing demands?

TR: The produce business changes every day with new products, packaging, and changing desires. Because of our closely held nature, we are able to react very quickly; we have no bureaucracy to get in our way.

Fresh: What role has human capital played in getting your company where it is today?

TR: Human capital is everything to our business. Without people that you can trust a job to, allowing you to move to the next project, we could never have come this far.

Fresh: Do you think we are facing a "people with talent" shortage or simply a "people" shortage?

TR: People with talent, definitely. You can teach someone about the business but you can't teach them passion; that comes from within. I'm seeing that there are less people with a passion for produce.

Fresh: How do you see the impending talent shortage affecting our industry?

TR: It goes back to the last question. I'm not seeing the people with the passion for produce. With passion comes innovation and foresight, and that grows an industry.

Fresh: Does your company offer any type of training program(s)? If so, tell us about your program(s).

TR: Pacific International Marketing has, throughout the years, offered summer intern programs to both high school and college students. These positions have covered all aspects of the produce industry from information technology to food safety to production. The program lasts approximately two months and offers the students an opportunity to get hands on experience in a field of the produce industry that interests them. Although the program is not available every year I believe it is beneficial to all those who are involved

Fresh: How do you feel that your company's contribution to PMA's Foundation for Industry Talent will help your company deal with these challenges?

TR: The produce business is a constantly evolving entity. It's imperative to the industry to support programs like FIT to ensure a proactive approach in finding and recruiting bright individuals that will keep the produce industry moving forward. It's important to remember that support comes in many forms: time, guidance, monetary. We're just doing what we can. If we sit on the sidelines and watch the best and the brightest recruited by other industries we have no one to blame but ourselves. By offering this contribution we are investing not only in someone else's future but also our own.