Earlier this month the fifth Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class had a chance to get their boots on the ground at Hionis Greenhouses in Whitehouse Station, NJ, and the Clifford E. and Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm at Rutgers University located near Pittstown, NJ, as part of the ongoing EPC leadership education program.

 It was a packed exhibit floor at the International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, CA, from open to close on Friday, Oct. 20. By all accounts, the second “Big Show” put on by IFPA was a rousing success. Day two enjoyed strong traffic throughout the morning, staying busy until the end of the day.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods introduced its new Dandy Snacking In A Snap! product line with the unveiling of the inaugural product — celery dippers — at the Global Produce and Floral show. Celery dippers are a petite two-inch celery stick perfect for bite-size snacking.

Two of Target's tenured executives — John Mulligan, executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Laysha Ward, executive vice president and chief external engagement officer — announced their plans to retire.

In other executive news, the company has named Matt Zabel as its chief corporate affairs officer, and Kiera Fernandez has been promoted to executive vice president and chief community impact and equity officer.

From making the U.S. the world's leader in avocado consumption to creating an avocado brand and debuting the first-ever commercial about a fruit during the big game, Avocados From Mexico has paved a fresh path in the produce marketing industry.  

Sun World International has appointed two industry professionals aimed at enhancing the depth of its fruit quality program and expanding the global marketing insights it offers to licensees. Joining the team are Elena Hernandez, director of global marketing insights, and Pablo Gómez, director of quality insights.