When the membership of the Idaho Grower Shipper Association gathers for its 81st annual convention Sept. 2-4 in Sun Valley, ID, it will mark the first year under the leadership of Travis Blacker, who took the helm following the retirement of the organization's former longtime president, Dave Smith.

Mr. Blacker told The Produce News that overall it has been a successful and exciting first year.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Food & Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg will address produce industry leaders Friday morning, Sept. 11, attending the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Public Policy Conference.

"There is never a dull moment in the produce business," said Nick Mascari, new account sales representative for Indianapolis Fruit Co. Inc. in Indianapolis. "And no two days are the same. You have to love this business to work in it. But the people are the best in the world, and I knew from a young age that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I cannot see myself working in any other field."

WASHINGTON -- One of the more visible food safety officials at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration - former Associate Commissioner for Foods David Acheson - started a new venture in August advising companies on food safety and trade issues at the consulting firm Leavitt Partners.

With experience in infectious diseases and seven years as a food safety regulator, Dr. Acheson was asked by former Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to join a new consulting firm that focuses on trade, health and environmental issues.

On Monday afternoon, Aug. 31, Mexican officials upgraded Hurricane Jimena to a category 4 storm, and some were predicting that it would become a category 5 storm before it reaches land sometime Tuesday, Sept. 1 or Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Because of much-below-standard housing and buildings in rural Baja California, experts are predicting that Hurricane Jimena will deliver a devastating blow to the underprivileged who live in shantytown and makeshift housing near the resort communities that dot the southern Baja California peninsula.

Topics such as food safety, immigration reform and the overhaul of the national healthcare system rightfully took center stage when the Texas Produce Association held its annual convention Aug. 19-21 in Austin.