Meet the Hennessy Food team
The Hennessy Food team knows fresh-cut processing because we have done it, too. Get to know us, then let us bring our fresh eyes to your business. Tell us what’s challenging you, and we will help you find workable solutions. That’s Hennessy Food’s Product, Plus℠.
JEREMY DYGERT
Jeremy Dygert is Hennessy Food’s owner and president. Jeremy founded Hennessy Food to solve fresh-cut processing challenges he himself faced throughout his 20-year career as a fresh-cut processor. Early in his career, Jeremy worked as an international broker, importing and exporting specialty produce. It was during that time that he was drawn to value-added products, and to extending product shelf life and improving product quality by harnessing innovative processing methods and packaging. Jeremy went on to successively manage three different fresh-cut start-ups, including his family’s own apple-slicing facility. He also served as general manager of two national full-line, fresh-cut fruit and vegetable facilities. To reliably supply raw product, he even founded a 75-grower cooperative, sourcing more than a million bushels of apples annually to fresh-cut operations. In these successive positions, Jeremy honed his industry, business and leadership capabilities, making him one of the most experienced executives and problem solvers in the industry today. Jeremy looks forward to leveraging his ingenuity and big-picture thinking to help you grow your fresh-cut business.
STEPHEN T. LACASSE
Steve is Hennessy Food’s lead sales representative. With more than three decades working in leadership positions throughout the fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, he brings to the table extensive experience forging solutions around fresh cut, food safety, packaging and storage operations. Steve’s background is in plant science; his expertise includes hygienic design requirements of processing equipment, shelf life extension through postharvest actions, and novel produce processing methods such as UV light disinfection. He earned a bachelor’s degree in pomology and plant science from Cornell University, and his work has been published in a range of technical journals and produce industry media. Prior to joining Hennessy Food, he served as executive vice president and director for Fresh Appeal, Inc., a provider of disinfection and shelf life extension technology to the produce industry. Applying his deep industry knowledge and future-forward thinking, Steve looks forward to helping you grow your business.
MAX PAYEN
Max Payen is Hennessy Food’s sales representative. Max has extensive experience in the fresh-cut produce industry, a wealth of knowledge about food processing and food science, and strong strategic acumen. His leadership and wide-ranging knowledge of food safety and quality assurance/control procedures stem from more than two decades overseeing regulatory compliance, quality assurance and food safety programs. He has worked for several leaders in the fresh-cut business, most recently as corporate director of food safety and quality assurance for Country Fresh LLC, as well as for Crunch Pak, True Leaf Farms and Taylor Farms. Max’s credentials include being certified in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems, as a Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Practitioner, and as a Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Control Qualified Individual (PCQI). His experience includes developing enterprise-wide food safety, quality assurance and control plans, as well as leading training in food safety and compliance. Max holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural business and management from California State University-Fresno, and is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole. Max looks forward to using his expertise to help you grow your business.
ADRIAN I. BUZICA
Adrian I. Buzica is Hennessy Food’s compliance representative. Adrian has extensive experience in food safety and quality assurance/control procedures and training. His broad food industry background includes implementing Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration compliance standards. Adrian’s certifications and training include National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, NSF International Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Internal Auditor Certificate, and NSF/SQF/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Advanced HACCP Validation & Verification Certified. Prior to joining the Hennessy team, Adrian worked as food safety & quality manager at Country Fresh LLC. A native of Romania, he holds a degree in legal and administrative sciences from Dimitrie Cantemir University in Bucharest. Adrian looks forward to putting his extensive experience to work helping you grow your business.