NAPLES, FL -- Members of the Florida produce industry were afforded opportunities to improve their businesses with a combination of educational and networking events during the 63rd annual convention of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association held Sept. 17-19 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, here. The theme of the convention was "Market Smart."

Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. hired Brian McLaughlin to its executive management team as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

SALINAS, CA -- Salinas native David Gattis, who launched Simplified Procurement here in July 2004 in conjunction with The Chuck Olsen Co. of Visalia, CA, moved on and started a Salinas division of Custom Produce Sales on Sept. 1.

SALINAS, CA -- As the ripple effect of the nationwide fresh spinach recall continues, some longtime industry veterans are calling it the worst such episode they have ever witnessed.

Joe Pezzini of Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms and chair of Salinas- based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, said that the focus should be on the woman who died and those who got sick from tainted spinach.

FRESNO, CA -- The decision of the California Tomato Commission to downsize and eliminate all activities except its research program that focuses on seed varieties and pest management will mean the loss of jobs for several members of the staff, including the organization's president, Ed Beckman.

Mr. Beckman has been with the commission for 18 years.

SALINAS, CA -- With claims of a smoking gun still ringing in the ears of spinach growers and shippers in and around the Salinas Valley, a closed meeting Wednesday, Sept. 21 with some 200 Salinas-area growers and agriculture leaders failed to lift the dark cloud that hangs over the industry.