The Produce Marketing Association hired its first in-country representative in Brazil, Valeska Oliveira Ciré, to help expand its reach and impact in South America as part of its strategic growth objective.

Ms. Oliveira Ciré will serve as a liaison to help increase association membership and facilitate two-way

The Defense Commissary Agency announced that Hardie's Fruit & Vegetable Co. LP, based in Dallas, has been awarded the produce supply contract for Area 2.

This agreement awards Hardie's a two-year contract to supply all fresh fruit and vegetables to 33 military commissaries in nine states.

Zespri announced that it will be positioning newly designed kiwifruit shippers in stores throughout North America that feature QR codes, engaging produce shoppers in a meaningful and unprecedented way.

FoodLink, an on-line network for fresh food retailers, wholesalers and suppliers, announced Aug. 10 that Price Chopper Supermarkets, based in Schenectady, NY, has selected FoodLink as its on-line commerce platform for sourcing and managing perishable goods across 128 stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

ISELIN, NJ -- Bill Donahoe, president and chief operating officer of Foodtown Inc., announced at the end of July the formation of Allegiance Retail Services LLC. This new company will function like a co-op by providing retail services to current members of Foodtown as well as various independent retailers seeking the benefits of co-op membership while retaining the ability to operate under their existing banners.

Dave Yeager

An Aug. 12 merger between Colorado-based Farm Fresh Direct LLC and two out-of-state potato shippers has FFD laying claim to being the largest grower-owned fresh potato shipper in the United States.