Life is not a field exercise. Just ask Mitch Brownfield.

The 29-year-old, who is part of the sales team at family-owned Sweet Clover Produce in Walla Walla, WA, has been a member of the U.S. Army, both active and reserve, since 2000, and has served as a senior drill sergeant out of Ft. Knox, KY.

Mr. Brownfield is a man of business and a man of action, and the military is in his blood.

The family portrait of the folks who make up the produce industry is changing.

Old and new generations stand side by side. Different nationalities join the picture. More women are taking over decision-making positions. New players enter the scene and strategic alliances are formed.

Following a planned leadership succession process, the board of directors of A. Duda & Sons Inc., a diversified land company based in Oviedo, FL, has elected David J. Duda to succeed Joseph A. Duda as chief executive officer of the family-owned corporation, effective Aug. 30.

David Duda, 48, who has served as president and CEO-designate of the company since September 2009, is the first member of the fourth generation of the Duda family to hold the top executive position.

MONTEREY, CA — Traceback capability is nothing new to the produce industry. It is a capability many companies have had internally for a long time, according to panelists participating in a July 31 workshop on the Produce Traceability Initiative, held here during the Produce Marketing Association's Foodservice Conference & Exposition.

Cool early-summer temperatures in Mexico have combined with colder-than- usual winter temperatures in Peru to create a demand-exceeds-supply situation this summer for asparagus.

J.P. Dulcich & Sons is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with an increased merchandising program that should boost retail sales of its products.