ORLANDO, FL — A panel of retail produce managers from around the country gave an upbeat snapshot of consumer produce purchases during a workshop at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition, here, Oct. 15-18.

Del Monte Fresh Produce is recalling cantaloupes distributed in the Detroit area after Michigan inspectors found that one melon tested positive for Salmonella in a Michigan warehouse.

Some 81 cartons of cantaloupes distributed to wholesalers in Detroit were recalled Oct. 21 as a result of tests by the Michigan Department of Agriculture as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Microbiological Data Program.

ORLANDO, FL — Tony Tantillo, well known to television viewers in the metropolitan New York area as The Fresh Grocer for his segments on WCBS- TV about fresh produce, will also be the new spokesman for the Hunts Point Terminal Market.

"He is really terrific to work with," Myra Gordon, the market's executive administrative director, told The Produce News Saturday, Oct. 16, just prior to the opening of the Produce Marketing Association’s trade show, here, part of PMA’s annual Fresh Summit.

ORLANDO, FL — Brazilian melon producer Itaueira Farms is using feedback it garnered at the recent Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition to help plot its course for future product releases.

Rodrigo Lima, president of Crown International USA Inc., the Key Biscayne, FL-based marketing arm for Itaueira Farms, said that the PMA Fresh Summit, held here Oct. 15-18, was a good opportunity to expose the trade to its "REI" brand Canary melons and other melon varieties it had available for sampling during the expo.

NEW YORK — Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. has solidified a partnership with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts that will bring the Ocean Spray trademarked "Craisins" dried cranberries to a number of retail points at Disney parks in North America, including Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL, and Disney Cruise Line, as well as the 450,000- member Disney Vacation Club timeshare operation.

The five-year partnership was finalized Oct. 19, here, at Ocean Spray's Big Apple Bog at Rockefeller Center.

Westmoreland Sales, a Leamington, ON-based greenhouse vegetable shipper, has added two industry veterans to its operation.

Matthew Wright, a veteran retailer who previously worked at A&P as vice president of procurement and vice president of produce, was hired in June as director of procurement.

Ruben Aboytes, who formerly worked for a seed company, joined Westmoreland in July as director of Mexican operations.