Gordon Robertson

Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing

It’s not enough to grow delicious produce that offers delightful flavors. You also have to communicate the benefits of your produce to customers and consumers around the world, and ensure that you have the right product going to the right customer. As senior vice president of sales & marketing, Gordon is the ultimate liaison between growers, customers, and consumers managing all international and domestic sales and marketing activities for the company.

Rick Paul

Category Director - Table Grapes and Citrus Varietals

In short, Rick supervises all things grape and citrus varietal related. He sets daily prices, coordinates packing with farming operations and reports market conditions. His impressive resume reveals extensive sales experience at Superior Farming Co. (Sun World’s predecessor) and Sunfresh Marketing before joining Sun World in 1997 as the category manager for stonefruit.

One of his proudest accomplishments is having been a part of the team that developed the market for MIDNIGHT BEAUTY® and SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® brand grapes. That’s definitely something to be proud of.

On a hot day, Rick enjoys a cold beer sipped from a tall LE ROUGE ROYALE® pepper. He credits the Beer Hunter in La Quinta, California for giving him this fabulous idea.

Gene Coughlin

Category Director - Peppers, Stonefruit & Lemons

24 years in produce sales is enough to make anyone an expert, and that’s exactly what Gene is. He’s most knowledgeable about the Sun World peppers, stonefruit and lemons he manages. He’s been voted Salesman of the Year by his peers and is a past member of the California Tree Fruit Agreement (CTFA) Peach Board, the KCAA (Kern County Athletic Association) and the Bakersfield Guinness Club. He’s a current member of the CTFA Plum Board.

As a stonefruit expert, it’s not surprising that Gene would like to live the life of an Angeleno Plum. He, too, wants to have an extended shelf life and travel around the world.

Ryan Debuskey

Category Director - Southern Hemisphere Table Grapes and Grapefruit

Being in charge of Southern Hemisphere table grapes and grapefruit is a tremendous responsibility, but Ryan is always up for the task. Having earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural systems from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a master’s degree in business administration from California State University, Bakersfield, he is also more than qualified. In addition to his education, he brings years of experience in quality assurance, services management and account executive positions.

When not overseeing the sales of grapefruit and import grapes, Ryan gives his time to Habitat for Humanity and is a regular blood donor at the Houchin Blood Bank. His favorite Sun World treat? Grilled HONEYCOT® brand apricots with vanilla ice cream.

Natalie Erlendson

Marketing Manager

Natalie’s job is to convey to customers and consumers why Sun World’s produce is so special. To accomplish this, she ensures that packaging is properly branded; messages are consistent; and newsletters, Facebook and web site content stays up to date with the latest Sun World news. She earned her marketing and PR experience working as a managing editor of local magazines and as a public relations specialist for Kaiser Permanente. The combination of all these experiences and her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from University of California, Los Angeles, helps her excel at her job.

In addition to spearheading Sun World’s marketing efforts, Natalie gives back to her community. She is a founding chairperson and current secretary of the United Way of Kern County’s Emerging Leaders, as well as a board member for the Community Connection for Childcare.

Having grown up in the “food basket of the world,” Natalie – who likens herself to a petite and sweet SABLE SEEDLESS® brand grape – knows a lot about the enjoyment of fresh produce. She recommends swapping your everyday bell peppers for LE ROUGE ROYALE® brand peppers for a milder and sweeter flavor, not too mention an abundance of healthy nutrients.

Rudy Heras

Key Account Executive

Sun World is lucky enough to have customers around the world in demand of our signature varieties. Helping those customers get the fresh produce they need to please consumers is the job of people like Rudy. As a key account executive, he manages a number of Sun World’s major retail and wholesale customer accounts, bringing over 25 years of experience in domestic and export sales to his position. He’s proud to have survived all those years with a head full of hair.

When he takes the time to indulge in the produce he sells, Rudy prefers chopping LE ROUGE ROYALE® brand peppers into a Greek salad.

Tammy Collum

Key Account Executive

Sun World’s key customers in the US and Canada are in very good hands. Tammy takes care of their produce needs through sales of Sun World’s branded produce. She brings years of sales experience to her job. Before joining Sun World in 2007, she lent her talents to Pepsi Cola where she won many performance awards. Tammy holds a degree in speech communication from Southern Illinois University. Outside of the office, she serves as President of the Kern County Arthritis Association Adaptive Aquatics Center.

When not selling Sun World produce, Tammy is enjoying it. She’s particularly fond of SABLE SEEDLESS® brand grapes because of their unique Muscat flavor and enticing aroma.

Charlotte Vernon

Key Account Manager

As a key account manager, Charlotte is a key player responsible for driving the planning and sales of all products to regional retail chains. She conveys market information to growers in the Coachella Valley, and communicates with brokers and wholesalers to sell product. Charlotte launched her Sun World career in 1982. Before becoming a key account manager, she also served as a citrus category manager and as both an export and a domestic sales representative. Her strong work ethic and dedication to excellence earned her Sun World’s Top Achiever Award in 1992 and 2003.

When not selling Sun World’s fruits and vegetables, Charlotte is enjoying them. She loves LE ROUGE ROYALE® brand peppers pretty much any way, but especially roasted with goat cheese.

Clay Wittmeyer

Export Manager

Clay’s primary task is ensuring that Sun World’s fresh fruits are promptly delivered to the 31 countries in which they are sold abroad. Specifically, he manages the sales and logistical coordination of ocean and airfreight shipment for grapes, plums, apricots, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, and Medjool dates. His job has allowed him to travel the world visiting customers, vendors and partners. His most significant professional accomplishment is the 10 years he spent opening the Australian market to California grapes. An avid swimmer, Clay’s also made waves outside of Sun World as part of the McMurtrey Aquatic Center’s 100 Mile Swim Club.  

When it comes to the fruit he exports, Clay loves the SABLE SEEDLESS® black grape. He believes it offers the perfect brix to acid ratio. The subtle tropical and Muscat nuances in taste always compel him to eat every last one.

Mignon Marlow

Key Account Manager

When you come across exquisite Sun World produce at your local grocery store, you can thank Mignon. She manages retailers, terminal markets, wholesalers and brokers all over the country helping them deliver fine fruits and vegetables to you. Ever since Mignon started with Sun World, she’s claimed that every day is a learning experience. Prior to joining the company, she put in 12 years as a purchaser for a public transit company.

Mignon likens herself to a SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® brand grape. She says she’s just the right amount of sugar and acid to offer her customers the ultimate sales experience.

Steve Espitia

Key Account Manager

As a key account manager, Steve is responsible for domestic retail and wholesaler sales. Before joining Sun World in 1986, he worked at Sears – another great American company. Steve likens himself to a SABLE SEEDLESS® grape: he calls himself short, dark, plump, and sweet. His coworkers and clients would agree on the sweet part. Steve isn’t just likeable though; he’s industrious and dedicated to his job. Those skills earned him the Sun World President’s Award in 2007.

Steve’s favorite way to enjoy Sun World produce is stuffing mini peppers with string cheese, throwing them on the grill and drizzling them with aged balsamic vinegar and olive oil—a tasty, gourmet treat.

Noel Siler

Manager, Sales Administration

Noël has spent the last 22 years helping Sun World sell its superior produce. She worked in the accounting department for the first 12 of her Sun World years and has dedicated the last 10 to sales, currently overseeing the WalMart account, sales support and transportation. Her impressive tenure earned her the 20 Year Service Award.

Noël considers herself primarily a grape person and is a big fan of the SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® brand grapes. Still, when you ask her about her favorite pairing, she talks about grilling sweet mini peppers stuffed with cheese and wrapped with bacon.

Elia Tarango

Transportation Coordinator

Elia gets Sun World’s produce from point A to point B. She determines the best mode of transportation and, when not planning cargo routes, also helps out in sales. This skilled multi-tasker has been with Sun World since 1982, but her produce experience goes back to the day she was born. Raised on a family farm, she’s intimate with what it takes to grow and deliver great fruit. Yet Elia’s talents aren’t limited to transportation and sales. She volunteers with and helps raise funds for youth groups, Soroptomist and Shelter from the Sun.

At home, she’s a red grape girl, enjoying the sweet and crisp textures of Sun World’s Crimson Seedless grapes.