Goods To Shelves: Meet The Buyers
October 21, 2018 Gvavital

During the 2017 Agrohack Conference, the panel discusses the necessary tools to turn your crop into a consumer-ready product.

Rafael Lama is Business Editor at El Nuevo Día. With 18 years of experience in journalism, covering national and international current affairs in print, Internet, television, radio and live panels, Rafael is one of Puerto Rico’s most respected and versatile media professionals. Rafael is in charge of all business and economic news coverage for the daily edition of the newspaper, its website and Revista Negocios, a Sunday business magazine. The award-winning journalist also runs GFR Media’s new English newsletter: “Puerto Rico Business Insights.”

Salvador E. Ramirez Cardona is Agriculture Consultant Supermercados Econo. He has dedicated most of his career to public service and the development of agriculture in Puerto Rico. He served as Agriculture Secretary and as executive director of the Agricultural Services and Development Administration, the Rural Development Corporation and the Land Authority. He is currently working with Econo on the development, launching and implementation of the “Econo Apoya al de Aquí” campaign and “Agricultores Econo” program.

Rolando Ortiz is Divisional Merchandising Manager for Walmart PR. He has more than 31 years of experience in the food industry and throughout his career has been a buyer and decision maker in deli, bakery, perishables, and other departments. Rolando is an expert and innovator in the development of partnerships with suppliers to create sustainable growth and long term relationships that benefit Puerto Rico’s economic development. He has been a Walmart associate for more than 15 years and leads the Fresh division since 2004. The Walmart PR business model is to substitute imports for local products and has been then industry leader in development of local agro-entreprenuers through its agroempresarios program for both Walmart and Sam’s Club.

Isaac Maisonet Pacheco is the Executive Chef of the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Before joining Caribe Hilton, Isaac was hotel chef de cuisine at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Universal Orlando, where he directed the kitchen operations of seven signature restaurants. His passion for fine dining surfaced at 16 years old during a culinary internship at the Caribe Hilton. Since then, he has led kitchens at The Peabody Orlando, Omni Orlando Resort & Golf Club, Fisher Island Club Miami, Ritz Carlton Miami, Westin Diplomat Resort, Fontainebleau Miami and St. Regis Hotel Houston.

AGROHACK is a premier agriculture innovation summit whose purpose is to propel agriculture as a sustainable source of growth and economic development.

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