ARLINGTON, Texas, Sept. 19, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Fresh America Corp. (OTCBB:FRES), a food distribution management company, announced today that it has appointed Mark Prowell as the Company's new President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Prowell will assume these responsibilities at the end of September 2002 from Darren Miles who has served as interim CEO for the past year. Mr. Miles will continue to serve as a Director of the Company.
Mr. Prowell said: "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to join the Fresh America management team. The Company has made several positive changes over the past couple of years and I look forward to working with all of our associates to build on this platform for future growth."
Mr. Prowell has over 25 years in the food distribution industry, including foodservice, wholesale and perishable distribution. For the last ten years, Mr. Prowell has been a leader in the fresh produce industry. He held his most recent position as the CEO of Sun Valley Fruit Company in Albuquerque, New Mexico since 1994.
In discussing the appointment, Arthur Hollingsworth, Chairman of the Board of Fresh America stated: "The Board and the management team conducted an executive search and are delighted by our good fortune to attract Mark Prowell, CEO of Sun Valley Fruit Company, as the new President and CEO of Fresh America. Mr. Prowell's distinguished career as CEO of numerous produce and food distributors brings the industry experience and seasoned leadership needed to take Fresh America to the next level."
Further, Mr. Hollingsworth commented: "I join the Board and the management team of Fresh America in expressing our gratitude to Mr. Miles for his service to the Company over the last twelve months. Mr. Miles took over as President and CEO concurrent with the September 2001 investment made by the North Texas Opportunity Fund, a Dallas-based private equity fund. It was Mr. Miles' goal to develop and implement a strategic plan for Fresh America and then turn the Company over to a seasoned produce industry executive. Now that the bulk of that plan is successfully completed, we are eager to usher in the next phase of the development of Fresh America."
Mr. Miles stated: "I feel very privileged to have worked with everyone at Fresh America during the last year and I am proud of all the progress we have made. I am confident that Mark Prowell is the leader Fresh America needs to fulfill its vision and I am pleased to be able to continue to work with the Company in my role as a Director."
About Fresh America
Fresh America is an integrated food distribution management company that operates facilities located in Dallas and Houston, Texas; Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; and Chicago, Illinois.
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Although Fresh America believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, Fresh America can give no assurance that such expectations or any of their forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and future results may differ from those discussed in this press release. Important information regarding the factors that may affect Fresh America's future performance is included in the public reports that Fresh America files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresh America disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future event, change in expectations, conditions or circumstances, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by Fresh America or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.