Chiquita Brands International, Inc. announced the appointment of Courtney Parker as vice president of food safety and quality.

Parker will have responsibility for Chiquita’s Fresh Express salad quality assurance and quality control programs, as well as global responsibility to serve as Chiquita’s primary liaison to regulatory agencies and other industry stakeholders, coordinating cross-functionally for the company’s bananas and salads business units.

Western Growers has appointed Jeff Janas as its new communications manager in its Irvine, CA, office.

Janas comes to WG from Arizona, where he served as vice president of public affairs and communication at the Arizona Charter Schools Association.  He has extensive experience in government and communications, having served previously as an appointee at the Ohio Department of Insurance in former Ohio Gov. George Voinovich’s administration and for 11 years as a congressional staffer at the U.S. House of Representatives.

Angel City Brewery & Public House, a craft brewery located in downtown Los Angeles, just one-and-a-half miles from the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, held an avocado festival Aug. 24 to introduce a new light brew, avocado ale, created by Angel City brewer Dieter Foerstner.

A guacamole-inspired beer, the avocado ale is Angel City's 100th batch in 2013.

PLOVER, WI — As September digging swings into full tilt, Wisconsin's potato crop is expected to be of very high quality.

At Okray Family Farms Inc., located here, President Mike Finnessy said Wisconsin's potato crop this year "looks like much higher quality. Last year there was a high percentage of culls. There was a lot of grade-out. This year we have a very good quality crop and the yields are equal to or better than last year."

Noting an increase in consumers' snacking habits, Wegmans Food Markets has introduced its healthy line of “Fresh Cut Snacks” in all Wegmans stores for the back-to-school season.

Looking for a product that could equal its hallmark Vidalia onions in quality, taste and appearance, Shuman Produce Inc. of Reidsville, GA started its Peruvian program in 1998, importing just a handful of containers. Now Shuman has become one of the nation’s leading players in the Peruvian deal.