WASHINGTON -- Food safety will remain the top concern for produce industry trade groups in 2008, but they will be juggling other matters as Congress looks to capitalize on issues during an important election year.

Dale Liefer of Westlake Produce Co. retired from the Los Angeles-based company he has headed for nearly 20 years. His retirement was effective Dec. 31, 2007.

Jeff Miller, president of the company since January 2007 and one of the four remaining partners, will continue in that position. He joined Westlake in 1997 when Ed Miller Co. merged with Westlake.

Dave Eldredge, president and chief executive officer of Salinas, CA-based NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, relinquished those titles in mid-December.

Mr. Eldredge, who remains a partner in NewStar, retains his role on the board of directors of the California Leafy Green Handler Marketing Agreement and serves on that board's communications committee.

Albert's Organics announced that its Albert's Twin Cities General Manager Leonard Bibb has been promoted to the position of national operations director, a new position. Mr. Bibb will report to Greg Cota, vice president of operations.

Mr. Bibb, a fourth-generation food industry veteran, spent 18 years at Fleming, where he held various positions including division president, prior to joining Albert's in 2006.

Santa Maria, CA-based Red Blossom Farms and Fresno, CA-based ASG Produce Inc. have merged companies to form Red Blossom Sales Inc. in Santa Maria. The merger was effective Jan. 1.

ASG Produce has been the sales arm for Red Blossom Farms, and after working as a team for three years, Red Blossom Farms and ASG have joined forces to build a seamless marketing company with in-house sales. The merger creates administrative and service synergies for Red Blossom Sales as well as for the firm's growers and customers.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board increased its assessment by 50 percent to six cents per hundredweight from four cents on Jan. 1, according to NWPB officials.

A lengthy two-and-a-half year process culminated with the U.S. secretary of agriculture reviewing and approving the increase recommended by the NWPB board of directors, Mark Arney, the board's executive director, told The Produce News Jan. 4.