California Giant announced that Anthony Gallino has been promoted to vice president of sales. Previously sales manager for all fresh berries, and now beginning his 11th year with the company, Mr. Gallino has witnessed tremendous change and growth at California Giant.

The Southeast Produce Council has announced a number of details " including the selection of a keynoter and workshop speakers as well as the venues for the field tours " for its next retail conference, just about two months away.

The council?s second annual Retail & Foodservice Conference, to be held March 10-12 at the Tampa Bay (FL) Convention Center, will kick off Thursday evening, March 10 with a gala opening reception and dinner at the Radisson Riverwalk Hotel.

Shannen Bornsen, former director of international trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, has left that organization to take a position in international trade with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Ms. Bornsen, who had been with the Washington commission since February 2002, began her new job Monday, Jan. 3, relocating to Minneapolis.

Starting as director of marketing for the potato commission, Ms. Bornsen moved into international trade in mid-2003, traveling with a number of trade-commission groups to the Pacific Rim, Mexico and Cuba.

While walking through a carnival with my wife last summer, I noticed a great number of game booths set up for fun and entertainment. The game that caught my interest the most was the dunk tank.

It had the biggest crowd gathered in front of it yelling and screaming for some guy to throw a ball at a little red metal bulls-eye target.

John G. Karrat, who founded Karrat Bros. Wholesale Fruit & Produce in the 1930s, died Dec. 18. He was 95.

Born in Utica, NY, in 1909, Mr. Karrat began his career in the produce industry with a small truck and a small route, peddling produce at the age of 21.

In the mid-1930s, he and his brother, Nayef, started Karrat Bros. As owner and buyer for the company, he spent much time on the old Washington Street Market in New York buying produce for his company in Utica.

PHILADELPHIA " John Vena Inc. announced the addition of a new warehouse operations manager to oversee its recently purchased facility on Galloway Street. Joseph Aquilino has extensive experience in all aspects of produce operations management.

?Joe will develop this operation from the ground up," said John Vena, president of John Vena Inc. "We are confident that Joe has the expertise to pilot our new enterprise in the right direction."