WASHINGTON -- The first time the Produce Marketing Association brought three committees and its board of directors here may be already paying off, Bryan Silbermann, PMA president and chief executive officer, said during a June 28 press call.

BONITA SPRINGS, FL — In January, the first television advertisements for Florida citrus from new agency BBDO-Atlanta began to air across the country during the National Football League playoffs. The ads are humorous and have proved to be popular with viewers.

The question was, would they sell more juice?

The answer, apparently, is yes.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced June 27 that it intends to re-charter the Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee for the 2011-13 term.

The advisory committee, which has been re-chartered and approved by the secretary of agriculture every two years since 2001, examines the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry.

WASHINGTON -- Twenty reported illnesses in five states prompted the U.S. Food & Drug Administration June 27 to warn consumers not to eat alfalfa or spicy sprouts from Evergreen Produce, a company that is refusing to recall the products.

FDA issued the warning after its probe appeared to link the 20 illnesses -- including one hospitalization due to Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington state -- to Evergreen Produce sprouts.

IRWINDALE, CA -- Ready Pac Foods Inc. has announced the hiring of Bryan Jaynes as its new salad marketing director. Reporting directly to Barbara Dan, Ready Pac's vice president of marketing and R&D, Mr. Jaynes brings close to 20 years of marketing experience in both retail and foodservice channels, including leadership on both branded and private-label products.