TUBAC, AZ -- The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas honored two industry leaders, one of them posthumously, as Pillars of the Industry during its 42nd Nogales Produce Convention & Golf Tournament, held Nov. 4-6 at the Tubac Golf Resort, here.

It is the first year the award has been given, and FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer said that it is expected that Pillar of the Industry recognitions will be a "fixture" at future annual Nogales conventions.

Do you know a young person in the industry who is making a mark in produce? We would like to hear from you.

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Salinas, CA-based Colorful Harvest, one of the faster growing produce operations on the West Coast, has entered the value-added produce business and has hired a veteran product development director to drive the program.

The company's initial product offering, a new line of packaged green beans, was introduced at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit convention in Orlando, FL, Oct. 16-18.

The United Fresh Produce Association has hired Barry A. Eisenberg, formerly head of technical services for River Ranch Fresh Foods, as its new vice president of food-safety services.

ORLANDO, FL — An "emerging new consumer" is reshaping the way the produce industry presents itself. Attendees of a 2010 Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit workshop on reaching and relating to that new consumer heard from a panel of international experts about how to best begin the process.

“Why is it important to start talking about your brand?” asked Lorna Christie, executive vice president and chief operating officer of PMA. “We're faced with an emerging new consumer. We don’t yet have a clear picture of just who that is, but it is starting to take shape.”

Premium Produce Distributors Inc. in Nogales, AZ, which was founded in 1990 by Gilbert Munguia Sr. and his son, Gilbert G. (Gil) Munguia Jr., is in the process of closing operations. The younger Mr. Munguia is now operations manager and sales manager at the Nogales office of Raleigh, NC-based L&M Cos., and his father has retired.