SAVANNAH, GA -- The Southeast Produce Council elected new leaders at its annual fall conference, held here Sept. 23-25, led by John Shuman of Shuman Produce as president. He is joined by Andrew Scott of General Produce Inc. as first vice president, David Sherrod of Apio Inc. as second vice president, Mark Daniels of Military Produce Group as secretary and Steve Williams of Sweetbay Supermarkets as treasurer.

LINDSAY, CA -- LoBue Citrus announced in late September that it has hired Rick Osterhues as vice president of sales and marketing, a newly created position. Effective Oct. 4, Mr. Osterhues will provide leadership on key sales and marketing initiatives as identified in LoBue's recently completed strategic plan.

Red Blossom Sales, based in Salinas, CA, will be offering Florida strawberries as part of its winter and early-spring product sales.

The McDonald family in Plant City, FL, which has been growing strawberries in Florida for 30 years, will grow and sell 200 acres of Florida strawberries exclusively for Red Blossom. Additionally, Mark McDonald, along with his son, Shane, and nephew Andy McDonald, will all be joining Red Blossom.

Chick Goodman has joined the Coosemans Worldwide team as vice president of sales and marketing, bringing with him more than 20 years of national sales and marketing experience in the produce industry.

"We are delighted that we have been able to acquire the person that many consider to be the most talented and knowledgeable fresh-herb expert in the U.S. retail industry," Daniel Coosemans, chief executive officer of Coosemans Worldwide, said in a press release. “We feel having Chick as part of our team will help us grow our retail presence exponentially.”

Cool weather around the country has led to an early end to some of the local colored bell pepper deals and is resulting in a strengthening of the market, which could remain hot for quite some time.

Mike Aiton, director of marketing for Prime Time Sales LLC, told The Produce News Sept. 22 that the market took a strong turn upward in the last week or so as these local deals saw their supplies dwindle.

"It's definitely been good for California," he said.

Oro Loma Ranch, a grower-packer-shipper of premium pomegranates and arils, has formed a new sales company called Ruby Fresh.

With about 4,000 acres of pomegranates, Ruby Fresh is one of the larger pomegranate shippers in the United States. The company, a subsidiary of Oro Loma Ranch, will handle sales of arils and fresh pomegranates, which will be marketed under the "Ruby Fresh" label.