QPMA to honor women in produce at its annual convention
LONGUEUIL, QC -- The Quebec Produce Marketing Association will pay tribute to women working in the produce industry at its 61st annual convention Aug. 14-16 at the Fairmount Le Manoir Richelieu in LaMalbaie, QC.
In addition to numerous networking and educational opportunities, convention attendees will be able to partake in many exciting outdoor activities that the venue, about two hours northeast of Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River, offers.
Valerie Grenier balances family with her produce career
There are no tomatoes in Valerie Grenier's home garden. That is not because the 29-year-old does not like them; quite the contrary, she has an unlimited supply of them at her disposal at her job. Ms. Grenier is the sales and marketing director at Les Serres du St.-Laurent, recognized throughout Quebec by its "Savoura" label and renowned for its premium greenhouse-grown tomatoes.
Bruce Grim named executive director of the WSHA
Bruce Grim, a longtime grower, tree fruit industry leader and lawyer, has been named executive director of the Wenatchee-based Washington State Horticulture Association.
According to WSHA President Mark Holtzinger, Mr. Grim's ability to deliver value in all his previous service to the industry qualifies him well to lead the association, which has represented the tree fruit industry for 104 years. The association serves to advance the industry through both education and legislative-regulatory representation in Olympia, WA.
Sunkist welcomes new packinghouse member
LINDSAY, CA -- Cal Citrus Packing Co. Inc, a well-known grower-shipper in the California citrus industry, is the newest member of Sunkist Growers, the grower-owned citrus marketing cooperative headquartered in Sherman Oaks, CA.
TPA settles on new convention date and venue
The Texas Produce Association has confirmed its plans to shift its convention from South Padre Island, TX, to McAllen, TX, and that it will take place Sept. 18-20, as reported previously by The Produce News and theproducenews.com.
TPA President John McClung said that Hurricane Dolly, which flooded parts of South Padres Island in late July, caused the rescheduling of the convention from its August date on that island to the September date in the Rio Grande Valley.
New VP at CTFA
The California Tree Fruit Agreement, the marketing orders that represent California's more than 1,100 fresh peach, plum and nectarine growers, has hired Jeff Smutny as its new vice president of marketing.
Mr. Smutny will join the CTFA team Aug. 19. In his new position, he will lead the marketing team in the strategic development and execution of marketing programs designed to expand the opportunities for the grower-members' success.
Paul Catania Sr. was 83
Paul Catania Sr. loved the produce industry.
After returning from World War II in 1945, where he was a seaman in the Canadian Navy for two years, Mr. Catania went to work for his father, Michael's, produce brokerage, M.L. Catania, which was founded in 1929.
He went on to manage its subsidiary, Superior Packing Co. in Bradford, ON, for 13 years. In 1963, he purchased M.L. Catania after his father's retirement and actively served as its president into the early 1990s. Along the way, he built the firm into what it is today, his son Paul Catania Jr. said.
Listeria found in Ontario mushroom products
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a Health Hazard Alert Aug. 1 for various sliced mushroom products distributed by Metcalfe, ON-based Continental Mushroom Corp. Ltd. that may be potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
'Queen of Kiwifruit' to be honored at womens business conference
Frieda Caplan, founder and chairman of the board of Frieda's Specialty Produce, will receive a Compass Award Aug. 12 at the Women's Leadership Exchange West Coast Business Summit at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. WLE's Compass Awards honor women who have made significant contributions in their professional fields. Ms. Caplan is one of four successful executives being honored at the event.
DNE'S Australian citrus program strong overall, with excellent quality
Movement of Australian citrus was a bit slower than normal this July due to decreased volumes of citrus in Australia, but the quality and condition of the fruit are excellent, according to the exclusive U.S. importer of that country's citrus crop.
"During harvest, there were long stretches of morning fog that prevented producers from getting to the fruit for harvesting," said Stu Monaghan, national sales manager for DNE World Fruit Sales in Fort Pierce, FL.