Michelle Alo, 38

Vice President of Marketing, Kings River Packing, LP, Sanger, CA

June 12, 2026 | 3 min to read

SHORT BIO

Hometown: Reedley, CA/Kingsburg, CA
Hobbies: Reading, Running, Watching kids’ sports
Family/Community: Married, 3 children
Motto in life: Choose purpose, then move boldly.

Alo brings nearly two decades of experience in agribusiness and food marketing, with a career deeply rooted in operations and family farming. She began her career in 2005 as a summer office assistant at Royal Valley. Other summer work in 2007 included work as an operations intern at Sun Maid Growers of California.

After completing her degree in 2008 at Cornell University, she began her full-time career at Sun Maid as a production planner. In 2011, she progressed to buyer and analyst, and in 2017, she became production planning manager. In 2018, she transitioned into marketing at Sun Maid as associate brand manager, growth initiatives. In 2019, she became brand manager of Sour Raisin Snacks.

She then served as brand manager at Plum Organics in 2021 before joining Kings River Packing as director of marketing in 2022. She was promoted to her current position in 2024.

She has been part of the leadership team helping grow Kings River Packing into a top five citrus brand in the U.S. Her work has included launching the “Grown to Share” brand platform and Feeding America partnership, leading key digital initiatives.

Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry and why?

I grew up in a multigenerational farming family, knowing early on that I wanted to find my place in the industry. I began my career as an office assistant in the packing house where my grandfather, uncles, and father delivered fruit, learning the business from the ground up and developing a deep respect for the work behind every harvest.

Over the years, that foundation has come full circle — attending industry events alongside my aunt and uncle, and now meeting people who share stories about their relationships with my family. To me, produce isn’t just an industry — it’s family.

Q: What is the one thing in produce that you are most passionate about? 

What I’m most passionate about in the produce industry is strengthening the connection between people, farms, and the food they eat.

I care deeply about honoring multigenerational farming traditions, while helping ensure family farms can thrive long into the future. That passion shows up in my focus on flavor and convenience — because when produce tastes great and fits into modern lifestyles, people choose it more often. For me, produce is more than a product or a transaction; it’s about people, legacy, and building meaningful, lasting relationships that make fresh food relevant, accessible, and worth choosing every day.

Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

I was honored to be a part of IFPA Leadership Class 29, but I am most proud of building a team that continues to do meaningful, impactful work.

Q: What do you think drives growth the most in the industry?

Retailer and brand collaboration drives the most growth in the produce industry because it unites shopper insight with product expertise to create clearer, more compelling experiences for consumers. Retailers contribute real-time data, access, and trust at the point of purchase, while brands bring innovation, storytelling, and consumer understanding.

When aligned, they deliver consistent messaging at shelf, inspire new usage occasions, accelerate adoption of innovation, and reduce friction in the buying process. This partnership shifts produce from a commodity purchase to a relevant, crave-worthy choice — boosting frequency, basket size, and long-term category health for the entire industry.