Jun 2, 2022

Lipman Family Farms CEO Shoemaker to retire

Kent Shoemaker, chief executive officer of Lipman Family Farms for 13 years, plans to retire in 2023.

He will remain in the position until Lipman Family Farms, a grower of field and controlled-environment tomatoes, transitions a successor into the role.

“On behalf of Lipman’s board of directors, leadership team and employees, we want to thank Kent for his years of dedication, impact, and service to the company,” Larry Lipman, chairman of the board, said in a news release. “Kent has led the company through a phase of accelerated growth, solidifying its role as an international leader in tomato and vegetable production. As CEO, he has spearheaded significant achievements across our business, including eight strategic acquisitions.”

The company’s succession committee will work with Korn Ferry, a global management consulting firm, to identify a successor. Shoemaker will continue to lead the company during the process.

“It has been my honor to lead Lipman Family Farms and a pleasure to work with some of the most exceptional people in our industry,” Shoemaker said in the release. “We have a solid leadership team in place, and I am confident that they will work with the next CEO to uphold Lipman’s values and trajectory of growth and expansion. This process started last July as part of a two-year succession plan. It will be seamless.”

The past two years have been filled with challenges across the industry.  Because of Lipman’s leaders and employees’ resiliency and ability to persevere, the company has a great runway for its future, according to the release. In this new path forward, Lipman is committed to continuing its tradition of success.