DENVER -- Personnel representing Wild Oats stores and Colorado's Front Range gathered in north Denver June 14 for a colorful and educational preview of this year's New Zealand kiwifruit season.

Emceed by Karen Brux, general manager of Zespri's North American operations, the two-hour Kiwi Encounter included presentations by New Zealand growers Brendan and Louise Fox as well as an electronic multi-media show. The Foxes are among more than 2,500 grower members of Zespri Group Ltd., which is represented in the export market by Zespri International Ltd.

Mary A. Ostlund has joined Brooks Tropicals Inc., based in Homestead, FL, as director of marketing.

Heading Brooks' marketing efforts, Ms. Ostlund wants to highlight the industry-leading steps Brooks has taken to deliver its quality tropical fruits and vegetables. Previously in her career, she headed marketing efforts for AT&T, Hewlett Packard, Champion Solutions Group, Vision 3000 and others.

A conversation about global economics cannot be had without China factoring heavily into the discussion. While much is made of China's high-tech and manufacturing prowess, the Asian powerhouse is coming up in the world in agriculture.

The population of China tops 1.3 billion, and the country has a workforce of 700 million. Specialty crops are on the rise in China, a country rich in cheap labor.