The week of Aug. 22, the Vista Hermosa Foundation released $1 million in emergency relief funds to aid organizations with their humanitarian relief effects in Somalia. The foundation was started in 1990 by Ralph and Cheryl Broetje, owners of Broetje Orchards in Prescott, WA.

Broetje Orchards, a leader in Washington’s apple growing and packing industry, was founded on the belief that faith and business can be incorporated in a single mission. Apples are marketed under the “FirstFruits of Washington” brand to global markets by FirstFruits Marketing in Yakima, WA.

Melinda Goodman, a 15-year veteran of the produce industry, recently opened Copper Penny Marketing, a marketing and consulting company specializing in fresh produce and food.

"I plan to offer clients a variety of services including brand management, new package development, promotional planning and public relations," Ms. Goodman said in an Aug. 23 e-mail to The Produce News.

CHICAGO -- While eastern and western apple-growing states are forecasting slight decreases in production, a surge in the Midwest, most notably in Michigan, should result in a 2011 U.S. apple crop that is slightly larger than this past year's.

Information released Aug. 11 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts a national crop totaling 226.471 million bushels, or 42-pound units, for the 2011-12 season. If the estimate is accurate, this will be the nation's 18th largest crop on record.

MONT-TREMBLANT, QC -- Surprised that he had not already received the honor, George Pitsikoulis, president of Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers Inc. and 2010-11 president of the Quebec Produce Marketing Association, officially named Leo Arsenault, whose storied career in the produce industry has most recently found him representing Quebec for the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp., the 2011 Pillar of the Industry in Quebec at the Saturday, Aug. 20, closing banquet at the 64th annual QPMA Annual Convention, here.

Much like the sellers of Hass avocados and mangos, the many different suppliers of asparagus sold in the United States are currently talking about putting together a federal promotion program for asparagus.

The idea is in its early stages, but a Washington, DC, lobbyist is working on the concept, and Peruvian asparagus importers, most of which also handle grass from Mexico, are aware of the idea and seem to support it.

In an effort to continue its leadership role in the single-serve salad segment, Ready Pac Foods Inc., based in Irwindale, CA, has bolstered its product development team with the hiring of Chef Thomas Helsel as its new executive research chef.