PLEASANTON, CA -- United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel said that the industry is facing many challenges, but it also has numerous opportunities that can make this a golden age for fruits and vegetables.

Although it recently lost one of its larger fresh cranberry growers, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. is "absolutely committed to fresh and is very much in a growth mindset, and we plan for that to continue," Chris Phillips, a spokesperson for the Lakeville-Middleboro, MA-based cooperative, told The Produce News Feb. 20.

James J. Jardina Jr., former president and chief executive officer of J.J. Jardina Co. Inc. in Atlanta, died Feb. 13 from complications from pneumonia.

PHILADELPHIA -- An April light may be shining for a new wholesale produce market, here.

After a Feb. 12 meeting of the board of the Philadelphia Fresh Food Terminal Corp., representatives for the group told The Produce News that the market was never so close to signing a deal, but there are a lot of contracts that have to be negotiated. A final agreement was expected to be reached by April 8.

Markon Cooperative, based in Salinas, CA, announced Feb. 13 the addition of ProPacific Fresh, a produce specialist based in Durham, CA. ProPacific Fresh is Markon's first California member and the first produce specialist to join the cooperative.

Tim York, president of Markon, said in a press release that the addition reflects increased demand for Markon's proprietary brands. He added that it would help Markon improve service to its existing and prospective multi-unit account customers.