The Canadian Produce Marketing Association announced Sept. 24 the resignation of Ron Lemaire, the organization's executive vice president and director of marketing.

As a key part of the association for the past 10 years, Mr. Lemaire has contributed as part of the CPMA team to position the association effectively to meet the future needs of its members.

Joe Longo Sr. loved life.

Mr. Longo was a family man who loved to celebrate with his family and who loved food, which was appropriate for a man who worked around food nearly his entire life.

Roseanne Longo, Mr. Longo's niece and the spokesperson for Longo Bros., told The Produce News that her uncle, along with his brothers Tommy and Gus, founded the Mississauga, ON-based company.

Mr. Longo, 70, died Sept. 15, after battling a lengthy illness.

U.S. consumers want their berries and often appear willing to pay what the market demands.

In speaking with a sampling of grower-shippers, produce brokers, wholesalers and retail produce buyers, few expressed concern to The Produce News that consumers would shy away from what might be high prices for certain imported berries.

Having year-round or nearly year-round supplies of berries requires that berries be imported by the United States since domestic crop schedules can't provide year-round supplies, especially to meet increasing demand.

For Brazilian producers, the opportunity to ship fresh mangos to the United States comes and goes quickly. But for the exporters who specialize in U.S. shipments, it is a very important window.

The 2008-09 Idaho potato marketing season will be the fifth in which fitness guru Denise Austin will serve as spokesperson for Idaho potatoes. Her activities on behalf of Idaho potatoes for the coming year will include a new television commercial and a satellite media tour, according to Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission in Eagle, ID.

For the new commercial, the commission brought Ms. Austin to Idaho and filmed her "interacting with our water, soil and climate," Mr. Muir said. That is what makes Idaho potatoes the world famous potatoes that they are.

Fall has begun, and with it the harvesting of apples coast to coast, which should typically mean good supplies and good pricing. But the apple market, which has been fairly hot all year, has remained strong through the transition from last year's crop to the new crop  and there is no letup in sight.

"Demand is very good," said Nancy Foster, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Apple Association in Vienna, VA. The prices are good, and we are happy about that. It looks like it is going to be a good year.