A familiar face in the Chilean produce industry has joined The Oppenheimer Group's Santiago team.

Industry veteran Bill Lewis became the company's South American trade manager on Dec. 9. In his newly created role, he will concentrate on developing Oppenheimer's export programs, which currently include the destinations of Asia, Europe and Central America.

LA MIRADA, CA -- The Fresh Produce & Floral Council will introduce the new 2010 board of directors to its membership at the annual FPFC dinner dance Jan. 30 at the Westin Long Beach. More than 600 produce and floral professionals are expected to be in attendance for an "Escape to Casablanca" themed evening that will feature roulette tables, a cigar lounge and a new dance band, Splash!

EDINBURG, TX -- Frontera Produce Ltd., a vertically integrated grower, packer and shipper of fresh produce headquartered here in south Texas, announced Dec. 21 that it plans to pack a record number of cases of its MD2 Golden variety pineapples from Mexico to market from January through July.

The year 2009 has been "a historic year in the garlic industry" with a demand-exceeds-supply situation that has pushed prices for both domestic and imported product to higher levels than anyone has seen in a long time, according to Jim Provost, president of I Love Produce, a grower, importer and marketer of fresh garlic, ginger and specialty produce based in West Grove, PA.

ORLANDO, FL -- CHEP announced Dec. 22 the signing of a multi-year contract with Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., a subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., for pallet pooling services in support of the company's banana and melon divisions.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association will help promote the Canadian produce industry to the world by organizing the first Canadian pavilion at the 2010 Fruit Logistica trade show, the largest show in the produce industry, Feb. 3-5 in Berlin.