Baldor acquiring Merex
Baldor Specialty Foods Inc. announced that it is close to finalizing the acquisition of Merex Food Corp., a leading produce importer for the North American market.
Merex is a specialty food industry pioneer, having introduced exotic products to the mainstream market over 20 years ago.
Metro promotes two produce executives, restructures Ontario operations
Metro Inc., one of Canada's larger retail chains, has promoted two of its senior produce executives and has begun to restructure its operations in Ontario to make it the largest grocery banner in the province.
Bernadette Hamel, senior director for produce purchasing, merchandising and central procurement, was promoted to vice president of produce purchasing, merchandising and customer service for Quebec and central negotiations for Ontario and Quebec.
Ron Lemaire and other key staffers leave CPMA
(This is an updated story from the one posted Sept. 9 on this site.)
Ron Lemaire is going green, and it has nothing to do with produce.
Mr. Lemaire, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's executive vice president and director of marketing, announced his resignation Sept. 19. He is leaving to become vice president of market development at the Canadian Green Building Council. His last day at the CPMA will be Oct. 17.
Foodservice Forum: Gaylord Opryland resort serving 2.5 million meals a year
With about a dozen restaurants and dining services, plus a catering and convention center, the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN, dishes out about 2.5 million meals a year. Executive Chef Michael Swann brings tremendous organization and creativity to the "table" and oversees every detail.
Texas Produce Association convention avoids weather, focuses on issues
In mid-September, when Hurricane Ike was several hundred miles off the coast of Texas and barreling down on the Lone Star State, Texas Produce Association President John McClung thought he might have to postpone the association's convention one more time.
But the storm veered north and east, sparing the Rio Grande Valley from its wrath and allowing the TPA convention to be held Sept. 19-21 in McAllen, TX. "We had somewhat of a makeshift event, but it was well worth the effort," he said. "We had some excellent presentations on a variety of very important topics."
Patrick Delaney joins United Fresh
The United Fresh Produce Association announced the hiring of Patrick Delaney to the newly created post of communications manager. He will handle all incoming press inquiries, as well as research and proactive media outreach. Additionally, he will play a key role in providing content development and editing for United Fresh publications.
Southeast Produce Council elects new officers at its annual fall conference
YOUNG HARRIS, GA -- Close to 200 people gathered Sept. 25-27 for the Southeast Produce Council's 2008 fall conference, highlighted by the election of new officers, a workshop on the state of the economy, a golf tournament and plenty of social networking events.
Leslie G. Sarasin to lead FMI
ARLINGTON, VA -- The Food Marketing Institute's CEO Search Committee announced Oct. 3 its selection of Leslie G. Sarasin as president and chief executive officer.
Ms. Sarasin will be presented to the FMI board at its October meeting in Boston, and she will start at FMI in early November.
FDA to hold traceability meetings
WASHINGTON -- In the wake of the Salmonella saintpaul outbreak, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration is holding two public meetings this fall to gather information on ways to enhance traceability systems for fresh produce.
The daylong meetings are planned for Oct. 16 at FDA's College Park, MD, office and for Nov. 13 at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, CA.
Railex continues chugging along with completion of new California facility
It is said that good things come in threes, and that is certainly the case at Railex LLC.
With diesel fuel prices at an all-time high and with no relief in sight, the firm, a division of Riverhead, NY-based ADS Management LLC, is putting the finishing touches on its third state-of-the-art "freight-forward" distribution terminal in Delano, CA.
Paul Esposito, Railex's senior vice president of sales and logistics, told The Produce News Sept. 22 that its first Delano train is scheduled to depart Oct. 2 for its Rotterdam, NY, terminal.