The Jazz Apple Cycling team was in perfect tune for a podium finish at the Tour de Delta, the final stop on its 2006 North American race campaign.

Michelle Hyland, representing Enza Jazz apples, earned a very close second place in the unique event, where competitors were scored on their combined times in the hill climb (a 700-meter, 9 percent grade time trial), 36-kilometer criterium and 88-kilometer road race. Local favorite Marni Hambledon tallied a mere three points over Ms. Hyland, with less than two seconds separating the cyclists across the three disciplines.

Curry & Co. in Brooks, OR, in partnership with American Onion and Gerrald's Vidalia Sweet Onions Inc., is responding to the need for a year-round sweet onion program that can provide consistently great quality. The firm has taken some of the the better growers in each location and brought them together to provide a strong program.

Lester Spell, Mississippi commissioner of agriculture, led state officials in celebrating the success of the introduction of Mirai corn, along with conventional sweet corn, to the state's Delta region with a field and shed cooler tour, tasting and ribbon-cutting ceremony in late July at the operations of Delta Harvest LLC in Indianola, MS.

LA MIRADA, CA -- More than 200 industry professionals packed the Holiday Inn, here, Aug. 2 for the Fresh Produce & Floral Council's membership luncheon featuring the City of Hope.

The Produce/Floral Division of the Food Industries Circle presented City of Hope with a check for $120,000 to help continue the Southern California facility's cutting-edge technology in its continual effort to prevent and cure cancer and other life- threatening illness.

Maxco Packaging, located in Parlier, CA, announced that it has completed negotiations with Steve Jewell, president of Green Valley Packaging in Watsonville, CA, on a deal that will bring Mr. Jewell to Maxco as director of sales for the coastal region, a newly created position within Maxco.

Green Valley Packaging is a packaging distribution corporation that supplies a complete line of packaging primarily to strawberry grower-shippers throughout California as well as major vegetable companies on the central coast.

Keith Frosceno, who recently left the W. Newell & Co. in Champaign, IL, after about one year of service, joined Price Chopper in Albany, NY, July 31.

For many years Mr. Frosceno was vice president of produce and floral at Bozzuto's Inc. in Cheshire, CT. At his new company his title is senior category manager -- a new position -- and he told The Produce News, "I'll be involved in the produce procurement side of the business."