Doug Nelson recently joined Carol Stream, IL-based Blue Book Services as manager of special services. He will lead a team of industry-experienced trading and collection assistance professionals for the firm.

Mr. Nelson most recently worked as a lawyer specializing in commercial litigation in Chicago. In addition to his legal experience, he worked as a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act marketing specialist for over two years. Mr. Nelson earned his bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and his law degree from Chicago's Loyola University School of Law.

Dole Fresh Vegetables in Westlake Village, CA, a division of Dole Food Co. Inc., has announced that there is absolutely no truth to recent stories on the Internet of a current recall of "Dole" branded packaged salads. Dole said that its salads are safe to eat and are produced in state-of-the-art facilities with a priority on product safety.

Frontera Produce Ltd. in Edinburgh, TX, has announced the addition of Javier Gonzalez to its Florida division. He is responsible for leading the company's melon sales.

You're in a supermarket doing some shopping. As you're picking out a nice ripe cantaloupe, you spot a sign on an empty display case that states, "Wet paint. Do not touch!" What's the next thing you do? Like me, you're going to touch it. Right? So, you touch it. After getting paint on your fingers, the painter approaches and angrily says, "You just had to touch it, didn't you? Why did you have to tamper with my nice work? I'm a professional at what I do, and now you messed it up. Please mind your own business! I'm not trying to pick out your cantaloupe, am I?"

Jody Hegel was recently promoted to the sales desk at Sunrise Growers in Placentia, CA, which was just one of several exciting things to happen in her life in the last 15 months.

She married Robert Hegel in August 2005, just three months after graduating from Whittier College in Whittier, CA, with a degree in business and starting a full-time job at Sunrise. The newlyweds bought a house and extensively renovated it before moving in. And now, with her new promotion, she appears to be on a fast track to a successful produce career.

Production numbers for California apples may come in a little lower than the 3.6 million boxes of fresh apples shipped last year, according to Alex Ott, executive director of the California Apple Commission.

Mr. Ott said that estimates have this year's shipments at 3.3 million to 3.6 million boxes to be shipped for the 2006-07 season. The final tally for the 2005-06 season wrapped up at 3.6 million boxes; 2004-05 was 3.9 million boxes.