SAN DIEGO -- One of the faster-growing employment opportunities for professional chefs is a supermarket, according to Jennifer Gallagher, a professor at the culinary-focused Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC.

Global Berry Farms in Naples, FL, is changing its name to Naturipe Farms LLC and will be introducing a new "Naturipe Farms" consumer brand.

The company disclosed to The Produce News in a written statement that it planned to unveil the new corporate identity and consumer brand at the PMA Fresh Summit on Oct. 22. Along with that, the company will announce its "vision for the future."

In making the changes, the company is "building on its reputation as the berry experts with superior customer service and premier growers," according to the statement.

A 30-year veteran in the fresh food industry, John Lazopoulos Jr. joined DNE World Fruit Sales, headquartered in Fort Pierce, FL, in early August. He will serve the company as import manager of Spanish and Moroccan clementines.

MARICOPA, CA -- Grower Keith Mori, owner of FRUSA Cal. Corp. in Los Angeles, is "the finest grower I have ever seen, and I have worked for an awful lot of growers," said Richard Spalding, sales manager at FRUSA. "I have worked for some amazing [growers]. I have worked for Sam Perricone. I have worked for Blue Banner. I have worked for Bee Sweet, [and Mr. Mori] is by far, hands down, the finest grower I have seen. The fruit is just spectacular" in size, color and quality.

SAN DIEGO -- Produce Marketing Association President Bryan Silbermann announced Oct. 21 that the association's board of directors approved the outline of a comprehensive new program to ensure consumers' continued confidence in the safety of produce.

At its annual meeting, held Oct. 20 here at PMA's Fresh Summit, the board authorized $1 million in new funds to be allocated over the next 14 months to a four-pronged program designed to reinforce existing and determine new industry standards for food safety that extend from field to fork.

The San Diego retail supermarket scene, like the community itself, is very diverse and offers a wide range of options for both the discerning and the discount shopper.