TAMPA, FL -- The Southeast Produce Council's sixth annual conference and trade show drew more attendees and more expo booths than ever before, while keeping the small, friendly and casual atmosphere that has made the event so popular in the past among attendees and exhibitors alike.

"The council will be putting together a post-conference survey within the next week or so," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Monday, March 9. "But overall, it looked pretty good."

VISALIA, CA -- A cartoon illustration of a frog reclining luxuriously in a pot of boiling water graced the program cover for the California Citrus Mutual 2009 Citrus Showcase, along with the words, "Are we cooked yet?"

WASHINGTON -- When Congress rewrites food-safety legislation, it must not forget to revamp how the government responds to foodborne outbreaks, United Fresh Produce Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel said March 11 during a congressional hearing.

In the first congressional hearing on the topic, the three-hour hearing featured a panel of five experts, who answered questions about how to fix the nation's food-safety laws.

Driscoll's Strawberry Associates in Watsonville, CA, has announced that long time sales manager, Tim Youmans, has been promoted to vice president of sales for the company.

Mr. Youmans, who has been with Driscoll's since 1999, will head sales for the retail, foodservice, export and wholesale channels, and will head the company's category management team. Mr. Youmans will report to Michael Hollister, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Bobby Stokes has joined Sunflower Market in Phoenix, AZ, as a full-line buyer for the supermarket chain. He had previously worked as the director of procurement for the retailer.

"I happily rejoined the company as a full-line buyer because of the amazing expansion we are experiencing - and growth, despite the economy," he said. "We work as a team - [there are] three full-line buyers - so we all have input and work with all vendors, carriers, etc."

San Leandro, CA-based Bay Cities Produce Co. Inc. has built a strong reputation during its more than 60 years in business, with most of that time spent as a tenant on the Oakland Produce Market.

The firm carries a full line of fresh, frozen and prepared fruits and vegetables, and it services restaurants and institutions. Foodservice makes up about 60 percent of Bay Cities Produce's business; processing - including custom- processed products - makes up the remaining 40 percent, said Albert Del Masso, the company's founder and president.