Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “I’m not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick good colleagues. Because I’m not so smart, I have to surround myself with real talent.”

Throughout my produce retailing career, I was very fortunate to have been associated with some excellent colleagues. Those individuals were from all facets of the industry: growers, shippers, truckers, warehouse operators and fellow company employees. I, too, surrounded myself with real talent. I always considered my associates to be partners in business.

LOS ALAMITOS, CA -- Frieda's Specialty Produce announced early in December that it signed a multi-year exclusive sales and distribution agreement with MOAB Superfruit Juice Blends.

With the new year, The Produce News staff will grow with the addition of Melanie Richer, who will join the publication as its new Canada editor and sales manager, better positioning The Produce News to serve the Canadian market.

The Southeast Produce Council has announced that Adam H. Putnam, Florida’s commissioner of agriculture, will deliver the keynote address at its annual conference this March.

WASHINGTON -- President Barrack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed Dec. 7 to two action plans to streamline cross-border trade and harmonize regulations.

"Put simply, we're going to make it easier to conduct the trade and travel that creates jobs, and we're going to make it harder for those who would do us harm and threaten our security," President Obama said Dec. 7 during a White House press conference alongside Prime Minister Harper.