Founded in 1939 by H.W. (Cy) Mann as a carrot-packing operation, the company soon started growing broccoli for frozen food companies. Mann saw potential for the then relatively unknown vegetable and began shipping broccoli to America's heartland.

Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac announced Ali Leon has been named senior director of marketing within the foodservice division. The company also recently added Gloria De Anda to its team as the buyer for retail specialties division.

In her new position, Leon will be responsible for the development and execution of short- and long-term plans that leverage consumer, culinary and customer insights and future trends, according to a company press release.

Watermelon is watermelon, where ever it’s grown. Attendees at the National Watermelon Association’s 100th birthday celebration in Savannah, GA, Feb. 19-23 will get a chance to find that out firsthand, as a contingent of Australian growers will be attending the Savannah celebration as part of a U.S. tour.

So how does the Aussie industry differ from the U.S. industry? There are some 400 growers who produced 136,861 tons in 2007, 152,140 tons in 2008 and 131,112 tons in 2009. Growers are scattered pretty much around the coasts of the continent, usually in remote areas.

“The primary produce items Customized Brokers has seen enter the U.S. this season have been asparagus from Peru and blueberries from Argentina and Chile,” said Nelly Yunta, vice president of sales, marketing and customer care, liner and logistics business groups for Crowley Maritime Corporation in Jacksonville, FL, and vice president of Customized Brokers, the customs brokerage and consulting division located in Miami.

Steve Circle, formerly sales director at Sunrise Growers Inc. in Placentia, CA has joined Main Street Produce Inc. in Santa Maria as director of strawberry marketing and sales starting in February.

Sunrise Growers, a subsidiary of frozen fruit processor Frozsun Foods, is “going to wrap things up on the fresh side,” so Circle is coming to Main Street “with all of his experience and knowledge. We are very excited to have him on board,” said Main Street’s President Paul Allen.

The new U.S.-Mexico Food Safety Symposium, an addition to the already robust lineup for the 2014 America Trades Produce Conference, will highlight how importers and their grower partners can help ensure a safe food supply.

The event is in collaboration between the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas and the Center for Produce Safety in Davis, CA. This new component runs from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, the afternoon before the main ATPC event. Registration is separate.