The DJ Forry Co., based in Reedley, CA, announced RAY ENGLAND as its new vice president of marketing. Mr. England will work with the company management to develop go-to-market strategies geared to expand and enhance long-term strategic partnerships with the retail sector.

“I’ve known Ray for close to a decade, and I believe that Ray’s retail experience and reputation in the produce industry as a thoughtful and honest individual will add significant value to our company. I look forward to the future working with Ray,” said John Forry, principal at DJ Forry Co.

Marc Holbik (second from left), vice president, and Isabel Hurtado (center), sales manager of Ecoripe Tropicals, flanked by the company’s papaya growers in Belize.

Ecoripe Trop

The new year brought a new crop of Piñata apples to grocery stores throughout the United States and Canada. This marks the third season that Piñata, a Stemilt Growers exclusive apple variety, has been widely available.

Sometime this month, researchers at the Institute of Food Technologists will launch two pilot projects for the Food & Drug Administration as an early step in developing traceability standards for agriculture.

The two projects will specifically deal with fresh-market tomatoes and a complex processed food product that includes chicken, though the eventual standards will apply to a wide range of agricultural goods.

Dole is out to make it socially acceptable to go bananas every day.

Undeterred that close to 90 percent of U.S. households already purchase bananas regularly - one of the highest penetrations of any supermarket item - the produce giant is challenging all Americans to make bananas part of their daily routine in 2012.