ASHEVILLE, NC — In his last major presentation as president of the Southeast Produce Council, John Shuman delivered the State-of-the-Council report at the council's 2012 Fall Conference, held here Sept. 19-22, declaring, "The council is in good shape."

Mr. Shuman, president of Shuman Produce Inc. in Reidsville, GA, gave his presentation Friday, Sept. 21, during the general session and luncheon of the council's annual fall conference, held this year at the Grove Park Inn, here. Over 300 people attended this year's event.

Paul Frederic, senior vice president of sales and marketing for To-Jo Food Products Inc., in Avondale, PA, announced to The Produce News that Bernie Ciuffetelli has been promoted to the position of chief operating officer for the company.

“Bernie has worked in the mushroom industry his entire life,” said Mr. Frederic. “He has been with To-Jo for the past 15 years, and was previously in charge of our processing operation. He is a true asset to our company, and we are pleased to announce this new appointment.”

The Maryland Wholesale Produce Market in Jessup, MD, is operated by the Maryland Food Center Authority, and is directed by a 12-member executive board that is appointed by the governor of Maryland.

In mid-September, with shipments of Red Wing onions out of Quincy, WA, still a month away, Sweet Clover Produce was “letting er’ rip” with loads of reds, whites, yellows and sweets from its growing regions in the Northwest.

According to Sales Manager Bill Brownfield, the season leading up to the Red Wings from Grigg & Sons in Quincy has been a good one, and Walla Walla, WA-based Sweet Clover was seeing good movement in all market segments.

Receiving apples in the Borton & Sons warehouse in a photo from the 1930s.

Ready Pac Foods Inc. announced that its Irwindale, CA, facility completed its first SQF 2000 Level 3 certification audit and has attained Level 3 certification, the highest level possible.

Ready Pac is seeking the stringent SQF Level 3 certification for all of its plants, to align its own desire for standardized and harmonized quality systems with its customers’ food-safety and quality needs, the company stated in a press release. Ready Pac’s Florence, NJ, facility achieved this milestone in May 2012.