NEWARK, DE -- Members of the Mexican produce industry conversed first- hand on important issues and Produce Marketing Association's increasing activities in Mexico during a September visit to that country by Nancy Tucker, PMA's vice president of global business development, and PMA Mexico representative Alejandro Larreategui.

SALINAS, CA -- Mann Packing Co. Inc., here, is rolling out three new vegetable product lines.

Mann's newly named "Steam & Serve" line replaces its previously named "Ready, Set, Steam" line of vegetables, which had won a Packaging Impact Award for Technology from the Produce Marketing Association.

LOS ANGELES -- Giumarra Nogales announced Oct. 13 that the division will be offering its full line of fruits and vegetables from Mexico this fall and will be shipping from two locations.

This year, exhibitors at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit will vie for the title of "Best of Show," and the winner will be formally announced at the general session on Monday, Oct. 27. Judging will be conducted by a mystery team of industry professionals, who will award first and second- place prizes in two categories: in-line booth (10 feet deep and any length); and island booth (20 x 20 feet or larger).

Booths will be judged on the following criteria:

After serving for 15 years as president of HydroSerre Mirabel, Martin Desrochers has left the firm he founded with his brother, Luc, and his father, Gervais, and also has resigned his position on the board of directors of the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp.

The Mirabel, QC-based firm, one of the larger suppliers of hydroponically grown Boston lettuce in North America, has over 21 acres of greenhouses in Quebec and is known for its floating raft technology, which Luc Desrochers adapted for commercial use in the early 1980s.

A random inquiry to dozens of fresh produce industry members indicates that both presidential candidates enjoy significant support from the produce industry's rank-and-file.

An unscientific e-mail blast sent to different produce business classifications across the nation resulted in many different responses, with adamant supporters of both Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama and Republican candidate Sen. John McCain.