The Fresh Produce & Floral Council has welcomed back a former staffer to lead the organization upon the retirement of its long-time president at the end of the year.

Carissa Mace will return as president of the Southern California-based council starting Dec. 10. She will replace Linda Stine, who announced her retirement earlier this year after 13 years at the helm.

A search committee, headed by FPFC Chairman of the Board Raul Gallegos of Bristol Farms Supermarkets, conducted a six-month nationwide search before settling on this industry veteran.

Darci Eckermann, formerly vice president of marketing and business development for The Sholl Group in Minneapolis, has been promoted to senior vice president.

She will lead the company's aggressive growth plans by overseeing sales, marketing, safety and quality systems and partner relations, for both the licensed and value-added business segments.

Included in the exorbitant costs that fruit and vegetable growers currently face are the third-party audits associated with food safety. The problem has even been tagged "audit fatigue" by industry professionals. But tomato representatives from Florida and California are now attempting to find relief from the condition.

SHERMAN OAKS, CA -- Mark Tompkins is the new director of domestic sales for Sunkist Growers, part of a realignment of responsibilities as John McGuigan leaves his position as vice president fresh fruit sales at the end of this year, announced Russ Hanlin, Sunkist's senior vice president of sales and marketing.

HOUSTON -- Consumer research and analysis of scan data reveal that the fresh-cut category continues to be in a very strong growth mode, and produce suppliers should continue to look for new opportunities in this arena.

At least that was the major take-home point during a workshop at the recent Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit, here, that covered the shopping and buying habits of American consumers.