Fruit Logistica 2009 underlined its role as a leading global trade event for the fresh produce industry as exhibitors and trade visitors alike praised the international character of the event and the fact that it attracted a large number of top decision makers, according to the organizer of the event, which was held Feb. 4-6 in Berlin.

Garry Rowe recently joined the sales team at Vero Beach, FL-based Seald Sweet International.

Mr. Rowe will specialize primarily in deciduous commodity sales but will also offer Seald Sweet's fresh citrus and other fresh produce commodities. He will be based at Seald Sweet's Swedesboro, NJ, office.

Formerly with C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Mr. Rowe brings more than 17 years of experience in produce sales, transportation, marketing and new business development to Seald Sweet.

According to Cherie Watte Angulo, executive director of the California Asparagus Commission in Stockton, CA, the past decade has been a period of adjustment for the state's asparagus industry.

"Our supply is in line with demand during our season," Ms. Angulo told The Produce News Feb. 2. "Mexico has increased acreage in the last few years." California is in line with supply and demand not only in the United States but overseas as well, Ms. Angulo said.

At two public meetings held during the last week of January, avocado growers vented their anger at the California Avocado Commission as a result of a recent audit that revealed questionable, perhaps fraudulent, use of commission funds. (See The Produce News, Jan. 19, 2009, page 1.)

WASHINGTON -- What does a peanut butter plant in Georgia have in common with fruit and vegetable producers? Not much until the peanut butter plant becomes the focus of one of the larger food recalls in history and fuels calls for new legislation to tighten food-safety regulations for the entire food industry.

TransFair USA, based in Oakland, CA, has opened channels for all Fair Trade- certified products to be marketed in the United States. The move, which became effective Jan. 22, comes at the prompting of importers and greatly broadens opportunities for Fair Trade growers around the world.

TransFair USA is the only independent third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.