Randy Medina, a seasoned professional with 24 years of experience in the produce industry, is the Director of Operations at West Pak Avocado, where he has been spearheading operations since September 2023. His extensive background uniquely positions him to enhance his team’s efficiency in processing avocados to ensure growers receive accurate packouts.
Growing up around agriculture, Randy cultivated his passion for the industry early on. He spent his summers during high school working in small stone fruit packing houses and officially began working in a packing house at the age of 16. Before joining West Pak, Randy was in regional sales for a manufacturer of packing house systems. He worked across multiple commodities, including avocados, tomatoes, and citrus, giving him a broad understanding of packing house operations and equipment.
“My journey with West Pak started seven years ago, not as an employee, but as one of their vendors, manufacturing packing equipment for the Mexico and New Jersey facilities,” stated Randy. What stood out to him was West Pak’s forward-thinking mindset and willingness to embrace data-driven decisions and tackle hard choices head-on. “That approach resonated with me. When West Pak extended an offer for me to join the team, I knew it was the right move. That conversation happened, fittingly, on the boat docks of Venice, Italy—a setting as memorable as the opportunity itself. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to be part of a company that values innovation, precision, and resilience in everything we do.”
As the Director of Operations at West Pak, Randy’s commitment to operational excellence is evident in his daily routines. He oversees a team that varies between 75 to 150 employees, depending on the season, ensuring everyone aligns toward common goals. His responsibilities include conducting morning check-ins with site managers, participating in executive team meetings, and overseeing maintenance meetings. These regular engagements help him monitor team performance and address any real-time operational issues that may arise, fostering an environment of continuous improvement.
Randy places significant emphasis on enhancing packout accuracy, a vital aspect of the operation that directly impacts growers’ earnings. To tackle previous challenges, he implemented a series of strategic improvements. Mechanical upgrades at the Murrieta facility include rebuilding the packing house’s sizer and upgrading electronic packages and software. Randy has also refined processes to ensure a relentless focus on monitoring three key points: fruit, container, and pallet, allowing the team to analyze performance from a technical and results-driven perspective.
“West Pak was already a powerhouse before I joined. The foundation was laid by incredible men and women who built an infrastructure that continues to drive success. My contribution has been in refining the small things—getting the details right on a consistent basis. I firmly believe that when we focus on executing the small things well, the bigger wins naturally follow,” Randy added.
At the heart of Randy’s philosophy is a commitment to transparency and fairness for growers. The system at West Pak is designed with built-in checks and balances to guarantee accurate packouts and pricing. Each bin is pre-weighed before it’s placed on the sizer, and real-time monitoring ensures any variances in the recorded weight are addressed immediately. Randy’s leadership ensures that if there are discrepancies, thorough checks are conducted to identify and rectify potential issues—ultimately aiming for a variance of less than 1%.
Randy’s past experience working for a leading manufacturer of sorting and grading technology has provided him with valuable insights into engineering principles, adaptability in packing line design, and process optimization. His understanding of how packing equipment is designed and calibrated has enabled him to implement strategic process improvements at West Pak, maximizing efficiency, enhancing accuracy, and ensuring grower confidence.
“My role at West Pak is to be the ultimate facilitator—ensuring that our leadership has the right environment and information to make key decisions when setting the company’s direction,” he mentioned. “My job is not just about executing a plan but also about anticipating challenges. I believe in planning for the worst while hoping for the best, ensuring that we are always prepared to navigate obstacles with a clear strategy.”
As he continues to lead operations at West Pak Avocado, Randy remains focused on upholding high standards of quality and operational efficacy. His dedication ensures that growers receive fair prices for their avocados and also benefit from a reliable processing partner committed to excellence in every aspect of the operation. For Randy, the journey is all about continuous improvement, supporting growers, and delivering quality avocados to customers.
