WASHINGTON -- United Fresh Produce Association announced in mid- September that it has hired Kam Quarles as its new vice president of government relations and legislative affairs. With the addition of Mr. Quarles, United Fresh continues to bolster its presence on Capitol Hill for the remainder of 2008 while strengthening the association's role to address the key policy issues that affect the fresh produce industry before a new administration and Congress take office in 2009. Mr.

NAPLES, FL -- The Florida Tomato Committee is aggressively going after consumers with several new marketing programs to let them know that Florida tomatoes will soon be back on store shelves and are safe to eat.

The famous Green Giant is getting bigger than ever with a new look on "Green Giant Fresh" brand produce packaging.

The Sholl Group II, the Minneapolis-based marketer of select "Green Giant Fresh" brand produce products, is changing the packaging and increasing the size of the Jolly Green Giant on all of its "Green Giant Fresh" products in grocery stores nationwide.

Imagine a device that would allow for farm-to-fork traceability with integrated temperature monitoring and country-of-origin labeling capabilities.

Impossible?

Not for PakSense Inc. and YottaMark Inc., whose new Ultra T3 label, powered by HarvestMark, accomplishes all three.

Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Canada's largest retailer with 1,690 supermarkets nationwide, has restructured its senior produce management team.

Citing a "short supply of colossals across the country," Sweet Clover Sales Manager Bill Brownfield said from his Walla Walla, WA, office that "it's our time to shine" with jumbos and colossals in both Red Wing reds and Sweet Clover Sweets.

Mr. Brownfield said that 25-pound cartons of Red Wing single-centers in jumbos and colossals were moving briskly in early September. Shipping had started Aug. 11, and he said that Sweet Clover will have "continuous sweet yellows through February or March."