Progreso Produce in Boerne, TX, has announced the opening of a branch office in Visalia, CA, that will be headed by Ki Thompson, who has over 20 years of experience in produce sales and marketing.

Born and raised in the Salinas Valley, Mr. Thompson has a strong understanding of all aspects of the industry and has a diverse sales history in nearly every California and Arizona commodity, as well as Mexican and South American produce.

Rochester, NY-based Birds Eye Foods Inc. announced July 25 that it would exit the vast majority of its non-branded frozen vegetable business to concentrate its resources on its branded segment.

WASHINGTON -- Produce businesses across the country will benefit from new agricultural marketing grants doled out by Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner on July 14.

"These grants will be used to explore new and innovative approaches to marketing U.S. food and agricultural products, and to improve the efficiency and performance of our marketing system," said Mr. Conner.

WALLA WALLA, WA -- Let me dispel any myths right off the bat. This was not my first rodeo, although to a casual observer it might have appeared so.

In truth, I have been distance running for about 15 years, participating in two half-marathons and a few shorter events. But with all the desk and phone work time I put in (I'm begging for sympathy here), I haven't competed seriously since the turn of this decade.

It would take significantly more than the slight rain falling over the agriculture region north of Denver on July 8 to turn around effects of a lingering drought for area farmers, but growers and water conservancy district personnel still welcomed even the hint of moisture at the same time that other parts of the state were hit with flash flooding.

Homestead FL-based Brooks Tropicals Inc. has hired Zoltan Pinter as vice president of administration. Mr. Pinter will spearhead the continued expansion of the firm's Belizean papaya production, oversee the rollout of new information technology, and handle the company's legal matters and government relations.

Mr. Pinter's multiple skills were honed during a decade in the produce industry and his experience will be put to immediate use meeting the market's increased demand for Brooks' "Caribbean Red" and "Caribbean Sunrise" brand papayas, according to a company statement.