CF Fresh, an organic produce marketer based in Sedro-Woolley, WA, is bringing organic Washington apricots from Wahluke Orchards to market again this year.

“Spice World will be in booth number 129 at the PMA Foodservice Conference & Exposition,” said Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for the Orlando, FL-based company. “Mitch DiMarco, director of foodservice, and I will be there to greet attendees.”

In 1946, Arie Koornneef “started as a jobber after immigrating to Canada from Holland after [World War II]. He started selling fruit to customers out of a pick-up truck,” said Fred Koornneef, president of Koornneef Produce. “His philosophy was simple, have an excellent product and take good care of your customers.” Five decades later, and Koornneef Produce has since grown to an all-year operation servicing all of Ontario and into the Atlantic provinces.

Oxnard, CA-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods hired SUSAN NORITAKE as its director of fresh-cut sales on July 9.

LOS ANGELES — It is widely recognized that unemployment is currently high in the United States and that unemployment among young people under the age of 25 is particularly high. Even college graduates are finding it more difficult to get a job than has been the case historically.

Some small business owners around the country tell of receiving hundreds of applications for every job opening.

Yet, there are produce companies in the Los Angeles area that advertise for good-paying jobs and get few applications.

Produce Alliance LLC, a produce management services group specializing in the procurement and distribution of fresh produce to the foodservice industry, announced the hiring of Melany S. Jolly as executive vice president, as well as the opening of a new flagship office in Salinas, CA.

Effective June 11, 2012, Ms. Jolly returned to the industry after a severe skiing injury forced her to take a year hiatus in 2011. She brings over 30 years of produce, grocery and broadline distribution experience to Produce Alliance.