The Oppenheimer Group's Southern Hemisphere pipfruit bill of fare experienced a boost in early March with the arrival of Chilean-grown Asian pears to Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Jerry Kraft, West Coast pipfruit category coordinator for Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer, recently returned from the orchards of Chile where he got a first-hand look at the season's Asian pears.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Sun World International LLC has announced several structural changes to the company to accommodate aggressive plans for business development and growth.

Dirk Winkelmann has been named to the newly created position of senior vice president of global business development, with responsibility for international sourcing activities and to expand the importing program to more adequately meet the needs of Sun World's customers.

When the United convention convenes in Chicago about six weeks from now, it will represent the third year of its three-year commitment to hold its annual event along with four other trade associations in one giant gathering under one roof. But the event has proven so successful that United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association has already renewed its commitment to the idea for the foreseeable future.

"Our board of directors feels very strong about the show," United President Tom Stenzel told The Produce News Monday, March 6.

LAKELAND, FL -- Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Dan L. Gunter announced March 15 that he will leave the department after almost two years.

Mr. Gunter, whose resignation is effective April 16, will become president and chief operating officer of Alico Inc., an agribusiness company based in LaBelle, FL.

Pro*Act, a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry based in Monterey, CA, announced that Hardie's Fruit & Vegetable Co.-South, formerly Five Star Produce, in Austin, TX, has become its newest produce distributor.

Pro*Act provides consolidated produce distribution programs, sourcing, and information services to regional and national multi-unit foodservice operators through its vast network of independent distributors.

WASHINGTON -- Time is running out for the U.S. Senate to fix a controversial immigration reform bill, but Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) reassured a crowd of producers and farmers who traveled to the nation's Capitol March 15 that relief is in sight.

During a meeting with the Senate leadership, Sen. Craig said that he was told immigration reform legislation would not move out of the Senate without an appropriate title for agriculture.

"We are causing them to understand that this industry is more sensitive to the need for a steady labor force than all others," he said.