GLOBALG.A.P. North America Winter 2020 Newsletter Articles

6. Februar 2020

GGNA grows by welcoming our new industry consultants

In 2020, GLOBALG.A.P. North America is expanding its service team with the addition of consultants with valued industry expertise. Meet Nicole Brunner, our dedicated liaison for the tree fruit industry and Carman McKinney in the hop industry. Nicole and Carman will work within their respective industries to provide information, education and support on behalf of GLOBALG.A.P.

Nicole Brunner – Tree Fruit Account Manager


Nicole Brunner has joined the GLOBALG.A.P. North America team as the new Account Manager for the tree fruit industry, with a focus on apples, cherries and pears. She will support producers currently involved in GLOBALG.A.P. certification and cultivate relationships with producers who could benefit from GLOBALG.A.P. programs.
Nicole is a veteran in the tree fruit Industry who works with the marketing associations and consults with Washington apple, pear and cherry growers on food safety compliance. Nicole has achieved success with well-established companies such as Stemilt Growers, Washington State Tree Fruit Association and most recently as the Director of Food Safety for Oneonta/Starr Ranch Growers, to name a few.
After spending more than 25 years in the tree fruit industry, Nicole understands what drives the ag industry. She plans to engage with industry to improve services to current and future users of GLOBALG.A.P. programs. She holds numerous certificates in food safety, safety & sanitation and is a certified auditor.
Nicole holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington in Spanish and completed the Executive Development Program at Cornell University.

     

Carman McKinney – Hop Account Manager

Carman McKinney has joined the GLOBALG.A.P. North America team as the new Account Manager for the hop industry.  She will support producers currently involved in GLOBALG.A.P. certification and cultivate relationships with suppliers and buyers who could benefit from GLOBALG.A.P. programs.

Raised in the heart of the Yakima Valley in Washington State, Carman has invested over 30 years in the ag industry; the majority of that time specifically dedicated to the hop industry managing corporate governance of all 3rd party food safety and environmental programs, human safety and education, organic producer/processor programs, and sustainability life cycle assessments. Alongside the Hop Growers of America and the International Hop Convention, she led development and implementation of the Hop Sub-scope for the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance standard. Carman was also instrumental in the development of the Hop Growers of America Best Practice Committee and their “Good Bines” on-farm food safety self-assessment program.

Carman’s career began in 1988 working in the juice industry in the lower Yakima Valley where she developed a strong interest in quality control. With early plans to move out of her small town of Grandview, WA, she decided that there was value in sticking around home to further her experience in agriculture. In the early 1990’s came great pressure from the EPA and DOE to regulate industrial wastewater discharged to the Yakima River. She took a proactive stance and began developing relationships with regulatory agencies, which led to successful partnerships, solutions and ultimately compliance.

Carman received her education in wastewater treatment through California State University, Sacramento and Washington Environmental Training Center - Green River Community College. In early 2001, she left the quality control and environmental field to pursue her interest in the hop industry.

Carman is a certified SQF Practitioner, and holds certificates in HACCP, Produce Safety Alliance, Internal Auditing, and Leadership Development.

Carman still resides in the same small town she grew up in, where she lives with her husband Scott of nearly 30 years. They have two daughters; Taylor and Emma. Carman maintains a strong connection to her community through years of continued support by volunteering on several committees. She enjoys spending time with her granddaughter Brooklyn, traveling, gardening, interior decorating, and pottery.