Pro*Act, a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry based in Monterey, CA, announced that Nick Proia has been promoted to vice president of sales. He assumes the responsibilities from Steve Finberg, who recently stepped down to accept a senior executive role at Adams Produce, one of Pro*Act's distribution companies.

Mr. Proia has over 20 years experience in the industry, holding sales and management positions in foodservice produce distribution, value-added processing and product development. Most recently, he was client services director for Pro*Act.

Widespread wildfires and even more widespread fierce Santa Ana winds in Southern California early in the week of Oct. 21 caused damage, and in some cases severe damage, to thousands of acres of avocados and other crops. But the scope of the damage to the state's total avocado crop is now believed to be lower than some in the industry initially feared and much lower than some early news reports indicated.

The conversion of Florida's longtime Kash n' Karry supermarket chain to Sweetbay Supermarkets has been completed as the last Kash n' Karry went through the transformation this past summer.

LOS ANGELES -- Nick Rendon, sales manager of the Nogales division of the Giumarra Cos., announced Oct. 31 that Giumarra will be offering a line of organic products from Mexico this fall.

"We have worked with the Llano family from Guaymas, Sonora, for many years, and they have consistently supplied us with high-quality green peppers, colored bell peppers, cucumbers and cantaloupes," Mr. Rendon said in a statement. "In response to demand from our customers and consumers, Mr. Llano is now producing cantaloupes and shadehouse grown organic vegetables.

One of the older and more respected tomato firms in Florida has apparently decided it can no longer overcome the many challenges the industry now faces to bring a product to market.

Taylor & Fulton Inc., based in Palmetto, FL, did not return calls from The Produce News seeking comment, but Jay Taylor, president of the company, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, "We have months ahead of us, but we are preparing to change direction. We're not ready to say yet. It's a little too early."

As Sunkist's John McGuigan aptly put it, the devastating effects of the January 2007 freeze are now, thankfully, "in the rear view mirror," so far as most California citrus items are concerned. Navel oranges have rebounded with good volume, good quality, a generally good size structure, an early start and virtually no residual effects from the freeze, as have other citrus varieties with one exception.

The exception is lemons, which continue in tight supply and are expected to remain tight and high-priced through the end of the year.