Bogs, Berries and Business
Students chatted with Rod Serres, senior manager of agricultural science for the company, during a tour of a cranberry bog, Iain Ward ’97, an Ocean Spray cranberry grower, and Alice Monteiro, human resources manager, who discussed the company’s internship program, with opportunities in the areas of data visualization, food regulatory affairs or operations/financial planning.
Emily Alberigo ’24, business administration/marketing major, was impressed with the collaborative feel and shared mission of the business, which operates on a co-op model.
“What really stuck out to me is how much the farmers and Ocean Spray care about their farms and cranberries. We met a fifth-generation farmer and it was so interesting to hear about his experience and see how much the bogs meant to him,” says Alberigo. “It was obvious this care went all the way through to the corporate level, because the same sentiment was shared by people on the administrative and executive end as well.”
Students on the tour included members of the AMA/UNH Marketing & Advertising Club and Paul College’s Rutman Och Leadership Fellows, as well as College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and College of Liberal Arts students.
For President and CEO Tom Hayes, the visit was an opportunity to showcase how an iconic brand like Ocean Spray can also act as an agricultural cooperative that supports the longevity and prosperity of small family farms.
“It is always a pleasure to introduce students to the breadth of experiences available at organizations like Ocean Spray. What you are learning within your major can immediately translate into unique job opportunities — roles that can jumpstart your career while also remaining purpose- and impact-driven,” says Hayes.