OTTAWA -- Canada and the European Union have reached a historic agreement to recognize each other's organic standards and laws after nearly four years of formal negotiation.

Pegi Adam, director of communications for the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council in Clayton, NJ, told The Produce News in late June that the council has been looking for ways to get grocery stores to push Jersey peaches more strongly and to promote them longer into the season.

Mike Cochran, vice president of Robt. T. Cochran & Co. Inc. at the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, NY, joined his father’s business in 2003. Today, the 29-year-old is well acclimated to the produce industry, including the often tedious work schedule and long hours.

KINGSVILLE, ON -- JemD International has announced the appointment of Adrian Abbott as director of operations. With over two decades of hard work and commitment, Mr. Abbott joins JemD International following his tenure with B.C. Tree Fruits Ltd., where he was director of marketing and industry relations.

In an effort to reduce time, distance and cost in the produce supply chain, a New York firm is proposing to finance, build and operate greenhouses on the rooftops of supermarkets. Participating supermarkets will have no upfront costs, but they do need to agree to buy the fresh produce grown on their property.

ORLANDO, FL — The annual Produce Research Symposium held by the California-based Center for Produce Safety was planned long before the recent European outbreak of E. coli O104:H4 that killed 48 people and sickened thousands, but that tragic incident was top-of-mind when 250 produce industry members and affiliates gathered June 28 at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort, here, for a daylong update on scientific research projects the CPS is funding.