Norman Barao joins Donio Inc.

11/22/2004
Written by: By Gordon M. Hochberg, Produce News
In a move that exemplifies its increased commitment to worldwide produce sourcing, Frank Donio Inc. has hired Norman Barao Jr. to direct its import program.

Hammonton, NJ-based Donio, a grower, shipper and distributor of a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables, "has never been directly involved with importing," company official Jim Donio told The Produce News Tuesday, Nov. 16. "But over the last year, we have worked at putting an import program together." "We feel that we are uniquely positioned because of our distribution facility, which is located near all the major ports," he said, pointing to sales, marketing, repacking and transportation as just some of the services it offers in addition to the new focus on importing. "We are a full-service company. We feel very confident that we can provide a very high level of service." Mr. Barao, 43 spent the last five years with Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., and before that logged nine years with Suma Fruit International as director of East Coast Operations

"I've been in the business going on 19 years," he said, noting that his entire produce career background has centered on the importing side of the industry, handling products from such sources as Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa.

As for his new post at Donio, he said that "part of the reason they're focusing on [imports] is to meet customers' requests" for items such as grapes, cherries and stone fruit when they are not available from domestic sources. "These will add another aspect to their company to help service their accounts. That's where I come in."

Building on Mr. Donio's comments about the company's expanded focus, Mr. Barao said that in addition to the imported items, he would also work "to stay in front of all the new packaging requests" in today's sophisticated market, such as clamshells and press-to-close -- "all the nuances that are being requested these days by retailers for easy consumer handling."

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