Interfresh Inc., a national supplier of fruits and vegetables based in Fullerton, CA, unveiled a new corporate identity and web site. The announcement came during the opening day of PMA Foodservice conference in Monterey, CA, where Interfresh showcased its new look and portfolio of products and services.

The Campari Marketing Group introduced the tomato variety to food editors at the some of the top national food, fitness and women's interest publications in New York.

Joanne Weir, cooking instructor, host of the PBS television show "Joanne Weir's Cooking Class" and author of the cookbook You Say Tomato, joined CMG spokesperson Kari Volyn on the New York tour. During the editor meetings, they shared information about Camparis, executed a tasting and offered Ms. Weir's favorite tomato recipes.

Members of the leadership of the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association met July 18 in Chicago, and while there was speculation that the focus of the meeting would be on a potential merger of the two associations, the chief executives of both groups said that was not the focus of the summit.

MONTEREY, CA -- Jorge Hernandez of U.S. Foodservice called food safety an "industry issue," and Kathy Means of the Produce Marketing Association called it a "supply-chain issue," drilling home the point that food safety is a concern for all.

The two industry representatives' comments came during a panel discussion on food safety at PMA's 26th annual Foodservice Conference & Exposition, held here July 13-15.

MONTEREY, CA -- They came, they saw, they congregated.

The Produce Marketing Association rode into town and drew 1,500 members to its 26th annual Foodservice Conference & Exposition held here July 13-15. Once again, PMA delivered the goods to a record or near-record crowd, which included a small increase in the number of distributors.

The show squeezed in nine more booths than last year, bringing the total number of exhibitor booths to 150. The additional nine booths were in the hallway adjacent to the main showrooms.

A hard freeze that struck avocado-growing areas in Chile early in the week of July 10 is being compared by some to the California freeze of mid-January that reduced that state's avocado crop by as much as 25-30 percent.

It will be two to three weeks before growers can assess the extent of the damage, but some California shippers who handle imported Chilean avocados estimated the expected crop reduction somewhere in the range of 15-30 percent. The shortfall is expected to be felt most severely during late August and early September.