SILVER SPRING, MD — The U.S. Food & Drug Administration should not mandate finished-product testing when it writes new preventive control rules under the federal food safety law, according to Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association, based in Washington.

MONTREAL — If the Avocado Producers & Exporting Packers Association of Michoacan [Mexico] has its way, Cinco de Mayo will become as big an event in Canada as it has become in the United States — complete with a major spike in avocado consumption.

MONTREAL — Gambles Ontario Produce Inc. was the 2011 recipient of The Produce News Fresh Health Award, presented April 14 during the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s 86th annual convention, held here April 13-15.

Misionero Vegetables in Gonzales, CA, announced the addition of LARRY OLIVO to its regional sales team. He joined Misionero April 7 in a newly created regional sales manager position.

Previously, Mr. Olivo was a western regional sales manager at Mann Packing Co.

He has over 25 years of sales experience and will be responsible for strengthening Misionero’s retail and foodservice business.

Numerous factors combined to push some vegetable items to dizzying heights through much of April and some of these items will remain in short supply and at high prices for at least several more weeks.

“There is hardly a red pepper to be found,” said Damon Barkdull, sales representative for Uesugi Farms Inc. in Hollister, CA. “And there is going to be no relief until sometime in late May.”