RIVERHEAD, NY -- Fresh From The Start LLC is ready for another great season of its Maine broccoli.

Now in its 12th year, Fresh From The Start, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, expects to begin shipping broccoli from Caribou, ME, during the week of July 16.

Illustrating the company's commitment to providing shoppers with quality organic foods, Hannaford Bros. Co., which operates 159 supermarkets in the Northeast, recently announced that it had completed the rigorous process of becoming a certified organic retailer.

Hannaford is the only traditional supermarket in the Northeast to meet the strict guidelines of Quality Assurance International's Organic Certification Program for Retailers.

QAI is an independent, third-party group that verifies organic quality and integrity for organizations around the world.

The Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center at the University of California-Davis has selected Jim Gorny, senior vice president of food safety and technology for the United Fresh Produce Association and former vice president of technical and regulatory affairs for the International Fresh- cut Produce Association, to join the center in the new position of executive director.

The United Fresh Produce Association announced that David Gombas has been promoted to senior vice president for food safety and technology, leading all association activities and member services in the scientific and technical areas, a position held by Jim Gorny, who announced that he will leave the association at the end of the month to head the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center at the University of California- Davis.

Steinbeck Country Produce is now offering baby Iceberg lettuce as a complement to its full line of vegetables. This specially developed variety produces grapefruit-size heads of Iceberg lettuce that the company says feature a sweeter, more flavorful taste than conventional Iceberg.

In a move that signals the company's continuing fresh approach to produce marketing, RJO Produce Marketing in Fresno, CA, announced the hiring of Scott Zeier as vice president.

RJO President John O'Rourke said that Mr. Zeier's 30-year retail produce career brings additional retail produce marketing expertise to the company.