Delhaize Group, a Belgian international food retailer, has appointed Frans Muller as chief executive officer, effective Nov. 8. The company also announced that Roland Smith is resigning today from his role as CEO of Delhaize America.

Muller will succeed Pierre-Olivier Beckers, who will remain available to advise the new CEO until year-end and continue to serve on the board of directors in a non-executive capacity thereafter. In order to ensure a seamless transition, Muller will join the company on Oct. 14, prior to assuming the role of CEO.

Mac Riggin, director of marketing for Chelan Fresh Marketing, said conditions bode well for a good quality crop this season. “We have good harvest weather now,” he said at the end of August. “You can kind of feel the fall in the air.”

Chelan Fresh has been moving fresh tree fruit since 2004. Serving as a link between growers and retailers, Chelan Fresh represents more than 419 growers from its headquarters in Chelan, WA.

PLOVER, WI — “I honestly believe this is true: Potatoes are absolutely the best food,” said Dick Okray. “I have never seen a product that is so perfect. Every man, woman and child in this country should include potatoes in their diet.”

Such is the enthusiasm Okray feels for his avocation and occupation.

Okray is in his second six-year term serving on the United States Potato Board. He is also the secretary-treasurer of Okray Family Farms Inc., headquartered on a sprawling packing and warehouse complex in Plover.

PLOVER, WI — Okray Family Farms Inc., is 108 years old this year, said family owner Mike Finnessy. “We’ve had five generations over the 100 years. Hopefully, we’ll keep going. We buy land every year.”

The firm produces 8,000 acres of crops on its own land. Fresh market potatoes account for 1,800 acres of that total. The firm also ships potatoes produced by other growers.

Okray Family Farms produces 3,000 acres of sweet corn for the processing market, as well as snap beans and peas for processors. Okray also grows field corn and soybeans.

FRIESLAND, WI — Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc., located in a sparkling new 200,000-square-foot office, packinghouse and warehousing facility here, has seen remarkable expansion into many parts of the produce industry.

Heidi Randall, marketing manager for the firm, is very proud to describe the company’s success, which has been led by her father, Larry Alsum. Also in the family business is Larry’s other daughter, Wendy Alsum, who is the firm’s financial analyst.

MUKWONAGO, WI — Even more colorful than “Mukwonago” — the name of the town hosting Bushmans’ Inc. Milwaukee-area office — is the office itself. This potato company’s suburban office was once a stagecoach stop.

Rosholt, hours north in Wisconsin’s hinterlands, is Bushmans’ headquarters.

Michael Gatz, new business director, and Bushmans’ salesman Jim Stefan, were just beginning to settle into the new office when The Produce News stopped in.