Rose Prost-Hiebert was declared National Prize Winner of the Pear Bureau Northwest's second annual "Pear Excellence" Canadian Culinary Student Recipe Competition. Ms. Prost-Hiebert, associated with the Elliott House Restaurant & Chef School, was recognized for her achievement during festivities at The Chefs House restaurant at George Brown College in Toronto. Her winning recipe, pear ginger cheesecake, garnered a $2,500 cash prize.

NationFresh LLC, based in Littleton, CO, has announced the hiring of two longtime industry veterans, Wesley Rust and Larry Narwold, to the sales and marketing staff of the company.

Mr. Rust, who spent the last five years as national marketing manager for Produce Alliance, headquartered in Nashville, TN, joined the company May 4 and will work from his home in Fort Worth, TX.

This year, the All Things Organic conference and trade show will join forces with three new show partners to create a powerhouse event focusing on evolving markets in organics, multi-culturalism, health and wellness, and specialty food. The event will be held June 16-18 at the Lakeside Center of Chicago's McCormick Place.

"This is going to be an exciting show," said Barbara Haumann, senior writer and editor for the Organic Trade Association. This show will help retailers understand what the organic standards mean and what consumers want. These are hot topics.

While Walmart Stores Inc., the nation's largest retailer, would neither confirm nor deny that it has shifted some of its key produce personnel to other departments, produce industry sources have said that the chain has reassigned produce executives and replaced them with employees from other departments.

Stanley Scarborough, 57, a berry industry veteran, died April 29 after a battle with cancer at Appling HealthCare System in Baxley, GA.

TORONTO -- They came for the strong networking opportunities. They came for the quality business sessions. They came for the engaging speakers and the entertaining receptions.

Whatever the reason, members of the produce industry rallied in the face of the challenging economy and came to the 84th annual Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show, held here May 6-8.