ARLINGTON, VA -- Steven Curtis Smith, board chairman of the Food Marketing Institute as well as president and chief executive officer of K-VA-T Food Stores Inc., d/b/a Food City in Abingdon, VA, announced April 29 that FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds has elected to retire.

Mr. Hammonds, the institute's second chief executive, will have served in that capacity for 15 years. A search committee is in place chaired by Ronald D. Pearson, chairman emeritus of Hy-Vee Inc.

Information continues to be gathered to determine exactly what caused a fire that destroyed the Evans Fruit Co. packing plant near Tieton, WA. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms "and the Tieton Police Department are investigating the fire," Tieton Police Chief Jeffrey Ketchum told The Produce News April 28.

ALAMOSA, CO -- A special luncheon prepared and served by eight members of the Colorado chapter of the American Culinary Federation was held Monday, April 21, in this south-central Colorado college town to honor scores of volunteers who responded to a recent water crisis.

When salmonella was detected in the Alamosa municipal water supply in mid-March, officials determined that the entire system needed to be flushed, and an army of workers and volunteers mobilized in response to the emergency.

Misionero Vegetables, a private brand packer focused largely on organic produce, earlier this month consolidated its Monterey County operations under one roof.

Misionero closed its Salinas, CA, processing facility and moved operations under one roof at its nearby Gonzales, CA, facility. When the grower- processor-packager returned from its harvest season in Yuma, AZ, in early April, it moved its equipment to its Gonzales facility.

Los Angeles-based Gourmet Trading Co. has acquired one of California's larger blueberry operations, including substantial plantings and packing capacity.

The purchase moves Gourmet Trading closer to being one of the larger growers, packers and shippers of fresh blueberries in California. Chris Martin, president and chief executive officer of Gourmet Trading, said that the company sees its acquisition of the blueberry operation as key to its ongoing growth in the blueberry market.

CLOVIS, CA -- "Ballantine Produce Co. Inc. [in Reedley, CA] and P-R Farms Inc. [here] are pleased to announce a strategic arrangement whereby, beginning with the current growing season, Ballantine will manage the farming and be responsible for the packing and marketing of P-R Farms' stone fruit," stated a press release issued jointly April 17 by the two companies.