Last year's deadly Listeria outbreak tied to cantaloupe has caused the produce industry to take another look at its handling recommendations, and now the industry is holding four meetings to solicit input on those changes.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention blamed last year's outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that resulted in 146 illnesses and 30 deaths in 28 states to tainted cantaloupe from Colorado-based Jensen Farms.

Denise Donohue, most recently executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, has left the organization to join Donohue Associates in DeWitt, MI, to provide integrated marketing services for the food and produce industries, including shippers, retailers and related organizations

Del Monte Fresh Produce, based in Coral Gables, FL, launch launched its 500 Sneaker March promotion, which runs through March 31.

Industry veteran Patrick Gibbons has joined Or-Cal Inc. as global marketing manager of their diverse line of agricultural products, which includes calcium carbonate sunscreens, slug and snail baits, fungicides and apple blossom thinning agents.