Sunsweet Growers Inc., a leading marketer of prunes, specialty dried-fruit products and fruit juices based in Yuba City, CA, announced that Dane Lance, the company's president, has taken on the additional role of chief executive officer, effective Oct 6.

Arthur Driscoll II, chief executive officer since 2004, is retiring after a distinguished tenure with Sunsweet. During Driscoll's time at Sunsweet, the company achieved record-setting revenue and grower-member crop returns.

California Gov. Jerry Brown's veto of a bill designed to protect the state's citrus growers against the spread of Huanglongbing, or citrus greening, has roiled the members of the state's citrus cooperative.

Orange County Produce is recalling red and green Bell Peppers after a random sample tested positive for Salmonella.

The recall is limited to three lots (Lot # SB 7 920, 923, 924) containing 1,208 25-pound cartons of peppers. No illnesses have been reported to date.

The lots were distributed to farmer's markets and wholesale foodservice within Southern California Sept. 21-24. The product was shipped in cases under the "OC Harvest" labels.

Bellevue, WA-based Pacificpro Inc., which handles a full range of Northwest commodities including apples, pears, potatoes and onions, hired MICHAEL LOSH as sales associate.

In his new position, Losh will be responsible for sales, procurement and transportation to all regions nationally, with a focus on California commodities such as citrus, grapes, melons and avocado.

C.H. Robinson will showcase a new brand and packaging during this year's Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit in New Orleans. The new product offerings and innovative solutions are designed to drive fresh produce sales.

Fletcher Street, director of sales and marketing for Olympia, WA-based Ostrom Mushroom Farms, commonly referred to as Ostrom’s, said that there is always market stress on mushroom availability during the holidays. She pointed out that the closing of California Mushroom Farm in Ventura, CA, in September, is leaving a void of about 20 million pounds of mushrooms a year, which could be most strongly felt during the holidays.