Tight supplies on yellow squash, green beans, sweet corn and some other commodities from northern Mexico were pushing market prices to unusually high levels in late January and early February due to the lingering effects of a mid-January freeze in southern Sonora and northern Sinaloa, Mexico.

Scott David Grinstead, who was the chief executive officer of Adams Produce Co. in Birmingham, AL, when the company declared bankruptcy last April, has entered into a plea bargain with the U.S. Attorney's office admitting fraud, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Alabama

To-Jo Fresh Mushrooms Inc. has hired Julie West Petrovick as director of marketing. Ms. Petrovick will be responsible for the development and implementation of innovative marketing strategies for both the fresh and food products divisions of the company. She will also be responsible for the company's in-house creative services initiatives.

Bayer CropScience announced that it is teaming up with the United Fresh Produce Association Foundation to support Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools, a public health initiative developed to increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption by providing salad bars to schools across the United States. This initiative is supported by evidence that children will choose fresh and healthy foods if they are available.

Hidalgo, TX-based Le Best Banana Supply Co. hired PHILLIP CUCCERRE as sales manager on Nov. 10.

In his new position, Mr. Cuccerre is responsible for developing grower-direct programs with retail, foodservice and processors. He handles the “Carmelite” brand, which includes premium bananas and gold pineapples from Mexico.

Prior to joining Le Best Banana Supply Co., Mr. Cuccerre worked for Chiquita Brands International in Cincinnati for 12 years, and The Oppenheimer Group for three years.

During the past decade, Stemilt Growers Inc. has made calculated business decisions allowing for seamless growth in today’s organic arena. The company, located in Wenatchee, WA, has been farming organic tree fruit since 1989. Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl said significant changes have occurred since those early years.