Sweetbay and Kash n' Karry announced the promotion of Shelley G. Broader to chief executive officer at the Tampa- based supermarket chains. Ms. Broader, formerly president and chief operating officer at the chains, has led the successful creation of Sweetbay.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering opening the U.S. market to mangos from India after 17 years. But the world's largest producer of mangos will still need to overcome several obstacles to seal the deal.

U.S. agriculture officials have been reluctant to open the U.S. market to mangos from India because it was never assured that shipments would be pest-free. While India is the world's largest producer of mangos, it exports less than 1 percent of its crop. Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States do not accept India's mangos.

WASHINGTON -- Past marches on Washington evoke visions of thousands of people carrying signs and shouting slogans, but the produce sector is hoping to carry a strong message to lawmakers when it rallies March 15 on Capitol Hill to lobby on the issue of immigration reform.

During his March 4 keynote speech to attendees of the Southeast Produce Council annual conference and exposition in Fort Lauderdale, FL, United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association President Tom Stenzel announced the launch of a three-year, $1.5 million fundraising campaign for Project Fresh Start, a new nutrition and health policy project of the United Research & Education Foundation.

Global Pacific Produce Inc., a Henderson, NV-based fresh produce firm, and Lazopoulos Associates, headquartered in Kennett Square, PA, recently announced that they have entered into an agreement to import certified organic Regal (Sugraone), Thompson seedless, Sunred seedless and Black Dan Ben Hanna grapes from South Africa under the "Colors" brand. The label is already well recognized in many countries.

Oakland, CA-based Grant J. Hunt Co. has named Eric Patrick marketing director, and the produce industry veteran will be part of the Hunt division in The Dalles, OR.

Mr. Patrick will operate out of the company's Yakima office, he told The Produce News March 1.

Prior to his move to the Grant J. Hunt Co., Mr. Patrick had served as director of marketing for Domex Inc. in Yakima, WA, and had also held the position of domestic promotion director for the Washington State Fruit Commission/Northwest Cherry Growers.