The Chilean fruit industry is working to improve industry sales through a program of wide benefit. The premise is to solve the problem that produce department profits are suffering because retailers have such a difficult time keeping trained, experienced help.

"We have a big enough stake" in produce department success “to put a thumb in the dike” to stem the flow of a “hemorrhage in the retail business,” said Tom Tjerandsen, managing director of North America for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, the Chilean fruit promotion group based in Sonoma, CA.

Walter LePage, one of the founders of the Washington State Potato Commission, died Jan. 12 in Pasco, WA, at the age of 97.

Mr. LePage was born Aug. 13, 1913, in Santa Ana, CA. His family sold its grocery store shortly after his birth and moved to a number of states, including Wyoming, Texas and Missouri.

Julia Stewart, who for the past two-and-a-half years has served as public relations director for the Produce Marketing Association, is stepping down from that post. Her last day is Friday, Jan. 21.

Ms. Stewart, who wrote in an email that she remains "passionate about our industry," cited family obligations as her reason for leaving the association. She said that she wants to devote more time to her two young children, and that she is engaged to be married this spring to Dennis Courtier, an apple grower and marketer.

A difficult economy is still the order of the day. As such, Robert Goldstein, president and owner of Genpro Inc., said that it is of the utmost importance that the company excels in the service that it provides.

"The good news is that people have to eat, but the bad news is that everyone wants more for less," Mr. Goldstein said of current economic conditions. To survive in such difficult times, he stated, "You have to provide great service and market that service to your customers."

The Tom Lange Co. Inc. in Springfield, IL, has a long history of innovation in the transportation and logistics field. But that does not mean the company is sitting on its laurels.

Based in New York City, Target Interstate Systems focuses much of its efforts on serving the buying community in the surrounding area.

"Our main emphasis is on the I-95 corridor from Washington, DC, up through Maine," said Paul Kazan, president and founder of the firm. "We service most of the major growing regions -- California, Texas, Florida -- getting produce from there to this area."

The company has two divisions -- one dealing in produce and one hauling other goods. Mr. Kazan said that the firm's business is split fairly evenly between those two freight sectors.