"There is never a dull moment in the produce business," said Nick Mascari, new account sales representative for Indianapolis Fruit Co. Inc. in Indianapolis. "And no two days are the same. You have to love this business to work in it. But the people are the best in the world, and I knew from a young age that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I cannot see myself working in any other field."

WASHINGTON -- One of the more visible food safety officials at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration - former Associate Commissioner for Foods David Acheson - started a new venture in August advising companies on food safety and trade issues at the consulting firm Leavitt Partners.

With experience in infectious diseases and seven years as a food safety regulator, Dr. Acheson was asked by former Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to join a new consulting firm that focuses on trade, health and environmental issues.

On Monday afternoon, Aug. 31, Mexican officials upgraded Hurricane Jimena to a category 4 storm, and some were predicting that it would become a category 5 storm before it reaches land sometime Tuesday, Sept. 1 or Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Because of much-below-standard housing and buildings in rural Baja California, experts are predicting that Hurricane Jimena will deliver a devastating blow to the underprivileged who live in shantytown and makeshift housing near the resort communities that dot the southern Baja California peninsula.

Topics such as food safety, immigration reform and the overhaul of the national healthcare system rightfully took center stage when the Texas Produce Association held its annual convention Aug. 19-21 in Austin.

Scenario No. 1:
Customers were moving along quickly in a local supermarket, eager to get home. Hostile weather was beginning to threaten the area with a massive thunderstorm and high winds predicted. Meanwhile, the produce department was loaded with product on all displays and ready for a big sales weekend. Later that evening, several inches of rain caused flooding and crippled the town. In the ensuing week, the produce department lost a substantial amount of sales and experienced a huge shrink in product.


Scenario No. 2: :

The Produce News has learned that Rick Eastes, who was named vice president of sales and marketing for Fruit Patch Sales LLC in Dinuba, CA, Dec. 8, 2008, the exclusive sales agent for Fruit Patch Inc., is no longer with the company.

It is the third change in management at the Fruit Patch sales organization in two years.