Dwight Ferguson has been named chief executive officer and president of Naturipe Farms, effective Jan. 4, 2010.

Mr. Ferguson, who left a similar position at Eurofresh Inc., Willcox, AZ, last month, takes over for Rich Amirsehhi, who has been serving as interim CEO since the departure of Bruce Peterson earlier this year.

Prime Produce International LLC, an avocado importer, packer and marketer founded in 2004 by Avi Crane, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy Dec. 4 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Central District of California in Santa Ana, CA, and ceased operation as of the same date.

The bankruptcy petition was filed by the company's attorney, John T. Hanson of San Francisco. Bankruptcy trustee is John M. Wolfe of Irvine, CA. The case is assigned to Judge Robert N. Kwan.

Hold the top sirloin, fried chicken and barbecue. A study conducted by Monterey, CA-based Dole Fresh Vegetables suggests that residents of a number of U.S. cities known for their meat-eating ways may actually prefer salad.

The Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee has partnered with OSI Restaurant Partners, the Tampa, FL-based owner of Outback Steakhouse, on a new promotion on the Facebook social media web site that includes a program to give away a blooming onion appetizer to participants. Coupons are currently being distributed to the first 500,000 people who sign up as fans on Outback's Facebook page.

Michele Peterson joined the sales team at Aspen Produce LLC, headquartered in Center, CO, Nov. 10. "This is just a wonderful environment," Ms. Peterson told The Produce News Nov. 23. The family-owned company has been growing and shipping potatoes from its state-of-the-art facility in Colorado's San Luis Valley since 1971.

Prior to joining Aspen Produce, Ms. Peterson worked at Harvest Select in Monte Vista, CO, for 10 years. Her husband is a third-generation potato farmer in the valley.

Nichole Towell has been selected to receive the Produce Marketing Association Foundation for Industry Talent's second Tip Murphy Scholarship for Leadership Excellence. Ms. Towell, marketing development manager for Duda Farm Fresh Foods in Wellington, FL, will use the award to participate in PMA FIT's Leadership Symposium in January.