For Rodney Van Bebber, his San Joaquin Valley broccoli plants can't grow fast enough.

As the Mendota, CA-based Pappas & Co. sales manager surveyed his fields at least a week away from harvest on Oct. 16, he also was looking at a broccoli sales in the $28-35 range for bunches and crowns.

"For years, we used to get started on Oct. 5, but we never had an October market," he said. "We'd break even in November and make our money in December."

Women are good for business, and in fact, research shows that the more women a company has in leadership position the better it does.

The trade show floor opened Oct. 19 for the Produce Marketing Association's 2013 Fresh Summit, located at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Foot traffic for the event was busy throughout the weekend. 

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NEW ORLEANS -- When the Mexican Hass Avocados Importer Association and the Avocado Producers & Exporting Packers Association of Michoacán formed a new joint promotional organization earlier this year, they sought out an experienced leader to become chief executive officer.

Their search led to Tim O’Connor, the longtime CEO of the U.S. Potato Board, based in Denver. He took the helm of the group in April and oversaw the official launch of AFM in July.

The PMA Foundation for Industry Talent held its Young Professionals Reception Oct. 18 in New Orleans, one of the day's many events. The reception was a networking opportunity for industry members 35 years old and younger, and included many graduates from the PMA Foundation's Emerging Leaders Program. 

Village Farms, a grower and marketer of premium hydroponic greenhouse-grown produce, is marking 25 years in business during the PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans and will be joined by Chef Darren Brown from Fairmont Pacific Rim as guest chef.