Industry veteran is new CEO

With more than 30 years’ experience in all aspects of the tree fruit industry, Keith Mathews became CEO in October for the new marketing firm, FirstFruits Marketing of Washington. Mathews was executive director of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association for the past two years, and for five years in the early 1990s. He’s had a long-term relationship with the Broetje family and Orlin Knutson of Columbia Valley, the two supplier-partners of the start-up FirstFruits Marketing, as well as a professional relationship with them during five years he spent in sales at L & M, Inc. Both Broetje and Columbia Valley […]