The Produce Marketing Association will not be filling outgoing Chief Operating Officer Lorna Christie's position before June when a strategic planning group is scheduled to come up with a plan on personnel needs for the organization, Bryan Silbermann, president and chief executive officer of PMA, told The Produce News.

The two prominent farming operations in Santa Maria, CA, that joined forces more than a year ago to build a new processing and shipping facility for their respective harvests are now under the same roof at Fresh Venture Foods.

There is a direct correlation between the ups and downs of the economy and the sales trends associated with the packaging manufacturing industry. At least that is what the figures suggest, according to Andrew Duguay, who is a senior economist with the Institute for Trend Research in Boscawen, NH.

Bayer CropScience is forging new food chain partnerships around the world and has reaffirmed its commitment to working together with the food value chain for the sustainable production of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Ecoripe Tropicals in Medley, FL, has enjoyed tremendous growth and evolvement in recent times.

The company enjoyed a highly successful PMA Fresh Summit last October, where it showcased its new one-pound clamshell of “Lafinita” brand rambutan, in addition to sampling the product to visitors. The product is packed fresh from Global Good Agricultural Practices certified orchards, and is marketed under the “Lafinita” brand.

Simcha Weinstein, director of marketing for Albert’s Organics, headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA, said that the company is exhibiting at the Southeast Produce Council’s 2013 Southern Exposure Retail & Foodservice Conference & Expo that will be held on Feb. 28-March 2 at the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, FL.