Crop damage assessments caused by the freeze that blanketed Florida Jan. 21 are still coming in, but early reports indicate that corn, lettuce and beans, predominantly in the Lake Okeechobee region, suffered about a 95 percent loss.

"The losses were very significant," said Paul Allen, co-owner of R.C. Hatton Farms in Pahokee, FL. "It was, in my opinion, the worst freeze we've had since 1989. About 95 percent of both corn and green beans in the Lake Okeechobee area were destroyed."

Respected mushroom industry leader and innovator Joseph D'Amico, founder of To-Jo Mushrooms Inc. in Avondale, PA, died Jan. 17 after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 53.

Mr. D'Amico began his career with his family's business in 1974. In 1980, he established To-Jo Mushroom, named after his two sons, Tony and Joe, to pack and distribute fresh mushrooms.

Giumarra Agricom International, based in Los Angeles, has named Chris Henry director of sales and marketing.

Mr. Henry comes to Giumarra with more than a decade of sales and marketing experience. Most recently, he served as vice president of North American sales for Advantage Interconnections. He will be based in Giumarra Agricom's office in Escondido, CA.

Bruce Peterson, president and chief executive officer of Naples, FL-based Naturipe Farms LLC, no longer holds those posts at the company but will remain on its board of directors.

Robert Verloop, vice president of marketing for Naturipe Farms LLC, told The Produce News Jan. 29 that Mr. Peterson "has completed the task that the board of directors outlined for him when he was hired, and the decision has been made to shift his responsibilities" to occupying a seat on the board.

In July 2006, Dan Hinkle, president of Hinkle Produce in Cissna Park, IL, entered into a long-term contract with the United Feature Syndicate, owner of the "Peanuts" characters' trademark. He then entered into an exclusive contract with International Paper to produce the "Charlie Brown" pumpkin patch bin wraps.