Southern Specialties Inc. announced that its board of directors has named Gary L. James chief operating officer of the company. The announcement was made by Robert Colescott, president and CEO.

Mr. James, 52, has served as general manager of Southern Specialties since September 2004.

Watsonville, CA-based California Strawberry Commission has hired Rick Tomlinson to the newly created position of director of government affairs.

Effective July 1, Mr. Tomlinson fills a role the industry's board of directors identified -- with the approval of a strategic plan in January -- as timely and of vital importance to the strawberry industry.

Magic potions tend to be made for fairy tales, without much real-world significance or relevance. But one company thinks it has stumbled upon something that almost qualifies for that lofty description.

Tristan Millar, formerly national accounts manager at Frieda's Inc., has been promoted to the newly created position of vice president of sales and marketing.

In making the announcement, Friedas President Karen Caplan told The Produce News that given Ms. Millars talents and looking to the future of the company, "we thought it was perfect timing. We are very excited about her contributions."

The Coachella Valley Chapter of California Women for Agriculture will honor Robert Bianco, a partner in Coachella, CA-based Anthony Vineyards, as "Agriculturist of the Year" for his support of the fresh produce industry and California Women for Agriculture.

Mr. Bianco will receive the award at the organization's annual awards dinner June 23 at La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, CA.

A fire at the Brandt Farms Inc. cold storage facility in Reedley, CA, on the morning of Wednesday, June 15, damaged the facility's main cold room and caused the loss of a considerable amount of inventory, according to Dave Maddux, a salesman with the company. No one was hurt, he said.