Ruthven, ON-based greenhouse grower Clifford Produce was the recipient of awards at two separate events, the 2011 PAC Leadership Awards Gala at the Toronto Congress Centre and the Coolest Cucumber competition at the Leamington Agricultural Fair in Leamington, ON.

Stephen Whitney, who has served as the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian-based Dispute Resolution Corp. since its inception in 1999, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2011.

Salinas, CA-based D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California and the Bounty Hunter Monster Truck of 2Xtreme Racing have teamed up for a design contest, the winner of which will inspire the Bounty Hunter’s new paint job. The contest is part of the two entities’ Racin’ For a Cure partnership, which combines the sport of racing with the healthy lifestyle supported by D’Arrigo’s “Andy Boy” fresh vegetables.

Two of CHEP’s customers have signed committments to the firm, one extending its contract and another signing a multi-year pallet-pooling contract with CHEP.

Shiloh Produce Inc.

Shiloh Produce Inc., an onion packer-shipper, extended its contract for shipping platform services with CHEP, an industry leader in pallet and container pooling solutions.

Based in Hatch, NM, the firm uses CHEP pallets to transport its yellow, red and white onions from processing facilities to supermarkets, wholesale clubs and distributors across North America.

Plant breeder Syngentaannounced May 20 that it plans to construct a new state-of-the-art biotechnology research facility that will focus on issues like climate change, drought, crop productivity and plant performance.

The new facility will be located adjacent to Syngenta’s existing research campus in Research Triangle Park, NC. Construction on the $71 million facility, was scheduled to begin in early June.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., headquartered in Oviedo, FL, is currently conducting a consumer promotion featuring Vidalia onions to target markets via Facebook, according to Nichole Towell, the company’s marketing development manager.

“So far the promotion has proved successful in terms of engagement and consumer retention and attraction,” she said. “During the first three weeks of June, Duda’s Facebook community grew by 66 percent, while consumer interaction has increased by 251 percent.”