Market data recently released by AC Nielsen indicate that sliced apples marketed by Crunch Pak LLC in Cashmere, WA, rank among the top prepared food items consumed.

Crunch Pak Director of Marketing Tony Freytag said that the one-pound bag of sweet apple slices was fourth on the list, and the company's tart apple slices ranked 12th. This is no small feat, he noted, because the overall list includes 1,400 items classified as prepared foods.

After more than 60 years in the fresh produce industry, Jerry Grossman is ready to call it a job well done.

Mr. Grossman spent most of those years as an independent produce broker. His license expires May 20, and at 86 years old, he is closing the business. It would seem that he has had a pretty good run. "I don't think anyone's ever called me a rotten son of a bitch," Mr. Grossman joked.

The secret to his success, he told The Produce News, came down to these three attributes: quality, honesty and volume.

FRESNO, CA -- When Rob O'Rourke, former president of RJO Produce Marketing, here, and a founding partner of the company, left to work for Topco in Chicago nearly four years ago, his brother John O'Rourke, also a founding partner, stepped into the position of president at RJO.

About nine months ago, after spending three years with Topco, Rob O'Rourke returned to RJO as senior vice president of retail development.

Three promotions have recently taken place in the senior produce ranks at Sobeys Quebec.

Pat Calabretta, the former director of produce merchandising, was promoted to senior director of produce merchandising and buying. Simon Faucher was promoted to head buyer, and Francis Berube was promoted to head merchandiser.

In his new position, Mr. Calabretta, who has been with Sobeys Quebec for the past 11 years, will be in charge of merchandising, procurement and quality control.

"L&M continues to enjoy steady growth," said Bobby Creel, director of business development for the Raleigh, NC-based company. "We are always adding to our line of high-quality products and staying on the cutting edge of produce trends and demands."

Mr. Creel said that the cherry crop in Washington state had a full bloom in early April, so a good program is anticipated through the month of June. "We are now finishing our organic apple crops in Washington," he said. "Then we'll start with organic and conventional apricots, peaches and nectarines for the summer."

CHICAGO -- The Organic Trade Association's All Things Organic Conference & Trade Show, held here April 26-29, was a perfect venue for Albert's Organics, a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of organic produce, and Strube Celery & Vegetable Co., the oldest established produce distributor in Chicago, to announce their new partnership that will have Strube distributing Albert's Organics' products throughout the Chicago area.