After a two-and-a-half-year stretch as vice president of produce for Topco Associates in Skokie, IL, Rob O'Rourke is returning to RJO Produce Marketing, the company he founded in Fresno, CA, in 1993 with his brother John.

RJO President John O'Rourke said in a company statement that he is delighted to have his brother back on the RJO team.

The Sholl Group II, a pioneer in the fresh produce industry, and General Mills, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products, announced the launch of a new spring promotion that combines two American classics: Green Giant Fresh Iceberg lettuce and Betty Crocker Bac- Os.

The program is a 55-cent instant-redeemable coupon that will be affixed to each wrapped head of Green Giant Fresh Iceberg lettuce. The coupon will offer instant savings on Green Giant Fresh Iceberg lettuce with the purchase of any Betty Crocker Bac-Os product.

Watsonville, CA-based Monterey Mushrooms Inc. signed a five-year contract with the United Farm Workers May 14 that involves the company's 650 full- time, year-round employees at its Royal Oaks, CA, facility.

The Royal Oaks facility -- which sits between Watsonville and Prunedale -- produces in excess of 750,000 pounds of fresh mushrooms per week, 52 weeks a year. Industry leader Monterey Mushrooms grows all its mushrooms on-site.

NEWARK, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association announced that General Colin L. Powell (Ret.) will be the general session speaker Friday, Oct. 12 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the 2007 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition. The convention will be held Oct. 12-15 in Houston.

"We are both honored and excited that the Honorable Colin L. Powell has accepted our invitation. We are eagerly anticipating learning his view of leadership and how we can apply his insights to our own lives and businesses," PMA President Bryan Silbermann said in a May 22 statement.

MONTREAL -- Trade between Mexico and Canada increased 21 percent in 2006, thanks in large part to the agricultural products that Mexico sends to its northern neighbor.

Tanimura & Antle is hoping consumers step up to the plate with a fork instead of a baseball bat, but with baseball and fathers -- and the company's Iceberg lettuce -- in mind.

The Salinas-based lettuce giant is introducing its "Hit A Home Run This Father's Day" retail promotion with Iceberg lettuce wrapped in a baseball theme. The idea is for T&A to stake a marketing claim to Father's Day as its own. It may be an easy fit for a company looking for a holiday and a holiday in need of a commodity.