United Potato Growers of America announced the expansion of its Potato Partners program at the second annual North American Potato Grower Summit held Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, NV.

President and Chief Executive Officer Lee Frankel told The Produce News that the 2008 program is comprised of three partners. This is the second year of participation for WinField Solutions. New to the program this year are Bayer CropScience and AMVAC Chemical Corp.

ORANGE BEACH, AL -- One of the more important facets of any food-safety or traceability program is documenting what has been done and then keeping accurate records of it, points which were stressed by speakers at the National Watermelon Association's second annual food-safety seminar, which kicked off its 94th annual convention, held here Feb. 20 at the Perdido Beach Resort.

At the venerable age of 150, The Oppenheimer Group, based in Vancouver, BC, holds a number of distinctions, including its designation by the Vancouver Historical Society as British Columbia's oldest currently operating company as well as its recent elevation to Platinum Club status as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies.

PLEASANTON, CA -- United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel said that the industry is facing many challenges, but it also has numerous opportunities that can make this a golden age for fruits and vegetables.

Although it recently lost one of its larger fresh cranberry growers, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. is "absolutely committed to fresh and is very much in a growth mindset, and we plan for that to continue," Chris Phillips, a spokesperson for the Lakeville-Middleboro, MA-based cooperative, told The Produce News Feb. 20.

James J. Jardina Jr., former president and chief executive officer of J.J. Jardina Co. Inc. in Atlanta, died Feb. 13 from complications from pneumonia.