Produce operations executive brings more than 25 years of experience across packing, distribution and supply chain management
Limoneira has appointed Ryan Young as executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective from 9 November, 2026. In this role, Young will report to the CEO and will be responsible for leading and coordinating Limoneira’s farming and packing operations, technology, organic recycling, and residential and commercial real estate rental operations.
Young brings more than 25 years of operations experience in fresh produce and food production. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of operations at Sun Pacific Shippers, a role he held beginning in 2023, with oversight of eight packing, warehouse and distribution facilities in California’s San Joaquin Valley, and more than 2,000 employees.
Before joining Sun Pacific, Young spent 15 years at Grimmway Enterprises, where he progressed from organic fresh manager to senior vice president of plant operations. In that role, he held enterprise operating responsibility across five business divisions and nine production facilities and served as a member of the executive leadership team. Earlier in his career, he held production, warehouse and plant management roles at WM Bolthouse Farms.
Young holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis. He serves on the board of directors of California Citrus Mutual and on the California Kiwifruit Administrative Committee.
“Ryan has spent his career running large, multi-site fresh produce operations, from packing and distribution to food safety and quality systems. That depth of operating experience will serve Limoneira well, and I look forward to working with him as we advance the Company’s operating priorities of redeploying capital into higher-return opportunities across our core agribusiness and real estate platforms,” said Harold Edwards, president and CEO of Limoneira.
Young commented: “Limoneira has built a trusted name through generations of excellence in citrus, and the company is well positioned to grow its avocado business while continuing to strengthen its leadership in lemons through its strategic partnership with Sunkist. I am honoured to join the team and look forward to working closely with colleagues across the organisation to drive operational execution as we serve our customers across both categories”.
