California cantaloupe handlers have voted unanimously to support a mandatory food-safety program that will be implemented by the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board.

The California Department of Food & Agriculture announced the week of May 14 that 100 percent of handlers voting in a statewide referendum are in favor of amending the existing California Cantaloupe Advisory Board to establish the new food-safety program.  

Brooks Tropicals' SlimCado avocados are on schedule and will start moving in early June, with good volumes by the middle of the month.

Mary Ostlund, marketing director for the Homestead, FL-based company, told The Produce News that the season runs straight through December with high volumes, but some late varieties extend the deal through January.

PHILADELPHIA -- Close to 220 people turned out Tuesday, May 15, for the Eastern Produce Council's dinner-meeting at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, the first time in the council's history that it met outside the metropolitan New York-New Jersey area.

The New York Apple Association announced winners of its 2012 contest promoting commissary in-store displays of New York state apples and Marzetti products. The 2012 contest was the 12th year for the NYAA-Marzetti event with the Defense Commissary Agency.

Six winning commissaries were named in this year's contest:

• Harrison Village, Indianapolis, IN; Thomasina Walker, produce manager.

• Gunter Air Force Base, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, AL; Rhonda Mitchell, produce manager.

Driven by changing culinary consumer preferences, Ready Pac Foods Inc. is introducing three new varieties to its popular Ready Pac Bistro Bowl salad line. Currently shipping nationwide, the three new salads, with fewer than 230 calories each, are Asian Style, Caesar Lite and Mediterranean.

Markon Cooperative Inc., the produce source of nine independently owned foodservice companies, has unveiled its redesigned website and social media channels.