Taste the sweet potato sales this Easter

The IF list: Mimi Corsaro, Vice President of Marketing and Director of Export Sales, Giumarra Vineyards

T his industry maven is known for being a bit of a jet-setter. While she’s out trotting the globe, she’s making a name for herself as an international businesswoman. Ensuring that the company’s innovative grape program gets into the hands of national and global produce departments is no easy feat. Grapes are the name of the game for this marketing pro, deepening her ties to the fresh produce industry—just as her family lineage does. But for us at The Snack Magazine, we wanted to dive in a bit deeper, which is why we passed off a handful of IFs to our friend, Mimi. Her responses will both delight and amuse you—just as they did for us!


IF you could be a character in any book, who would it be?

I am an avid reader, especially historical fiction, so I have lived many lives through many different characters! That being said, most great characters have either persevered through really challenging situations or have some serious character flaws…think I’d rather just read about them.

IF you had to choose now, what would your last meal consist of?

Warm sourdough bread right out of the oven from the Pyrenees bakery in Bakersfield, California, slathered with salted butter and blue cheese, accompanied by a Coke Slurpee™. Please do not bury me in my skinny jeans!

IF you could imagine yourself in a different industry, what would it be?

Fashion, definitely, although my current retirement plan is to work at Disneyland, and be a character—Ursula, the big, mean octopus-woman from the The Little Mermaid. If you know me at all, you will know that this makes perfect sense.

IF you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

I would love to have one last conversation with my grandfather, Dominick Corsaro. My grandfather died while I was in Chile, the same week I found out I was expecting my son. We would catch up about Ridgely, Giumarra, new grape varietals, and share a delicious Italian meal.

IF you had to wear the same thing every day, what items of clothing would you pick?

OMG! Seriously? Just the thought of this makes me want to cry!

IF you could enhance one aspect of your intelligence, what part would you want to improve?

Probably the recall and retention of “Important Things I Need to Know” rather than all of that “Other Random Stuff” in my head.

If you could join a musician, dead or alive, on stage to sing along or play an instrument with, who would you choose and why?

A duet with Ella Fitzgerald backed by a full orchestra would be my ultimate fan experience. Second choice? Sing some weird harmonies for System of a Down.

If you had $10 million dollars that you had to donate to someone else, who would you choose and why?

A large percentage of the increase in homelessness, criminal activity, and incarceration are all manifestations of a broken mental health system. If there was a think tank dedicated to, and capable of really figuring this out, I’d donate it all (and more).

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring?

I’m thinking bug spray. Knife. Yoga Mat. Cancel the yoga mat, and add a case of Cherry Pop Tarts. Nope, no satellite phone, no flares, I’ll be just fine, thank you.

IF you had a superpower, what would you want it to be?

I would love to be able to fly, Superman jet-style. Then I’d never, ever, ever have to travel overseas in economy again.