CLOVIS, CA -- Pasquale (Pat) Ricchiuti, founder of P-R Farms, here, and father of the company's current president, Patrick Ricchiuti, died Sunday, July 27, in Fresno, CA. He was 88.

Mr. Ricchiuti was born Jan. 7, 1920, in Rochester, NY. His family later moved to California and began farming, and as a young man, he began working on the family farm.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Western Veg-Produce Inc., here, has been involved in buying and selling grapes for around 13 years, and has supplemented that with a small grower deal for about the last four years.

But for the 2008 season, Western Veg-Pro will be representing some significant volume from two grape growers.

Two weeks shy of a decade of employment with the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association in Antigo, WI, Mike Carter has become the chief executive officer of association member Bushman's Inc. in Rosholt, WI.

Mr. Carter, who had been the executive director of the association, told The Produce News July 25 that the association is conducting a national search to find his replacement. Bushman's owner and president, Mitch Bushman, will allow Mr. Carter to serve on the search committee to find his successor.

Mike Kamphaus has been promoted to vice president of market development for the Eastern region at Supervalu. He will report to Kevin Kemp, Eastern region president for the retail chain.

Mr. Kamphaus has extensive experience in the grocery industry with over 20 years in retail management, procurement, category management and sales.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted July 22 to match the city of Salinas' investment in a rail-feasibility study that will be administered by the Salinas-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.

The county and city will each contribute $15,000 to a study that will evaluate the feasibility and industry interest in using rail carriers for the transport of agricultural products.

MONTEREY, CA -- Industry efforts to take steps to address the health and sustainability of the planet were explored in a seminar during the Produce Marketing Association's 27th annual Foodservice Conference & Exposition, held here July 25-27.

The seminar featured a three-person panel that tried to make the issue more concrete with examples of industry efforts toward sustainability. The panel also addressed public perception through surveys and anecdotal examples.