At its December luncheon meeting, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its annual holiday auction and raised more than $116,000 for charity. The designated charity this year was Caterina’s Club, a private Southern California organization that serves nightly meals to 300 underprivileged kids who would otherwise do without a real dinner. The event was held on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Sheraton Hotel in Cerritos, CA.

Norcross, GA-based Rock-Tenn Co. recently hired MICHELLE L. ALLEN-ZIEGLER as its corporate business manager.

“Business is good. No one is complaining about it being slow,” Ted Kreis said of Red River Valley potato shippers on Nov. 15.

Kreis is the marketing director for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, which is located in East Grand Forks, MN.

“Demand for red potatoes is good throughout the country,” he added. “Prices are ok but they could be better. There are a lot of red potatoes on the market. Wisconsin yields are high. Idaho grew more potatoes. All of the U.S. has got to be up for red potato production.”

Shuman Produce Inc. of Reidsville, GA, has seen its Peruvian onion deal grow in the last few years to become one of the industry’s largest, and the company also grows in California, Idaho, Texas, Chile and Mexico. But the Vidalia is still the crown jewel of the company’s program, and President John Shuman believes the new mandatory ship date established recently by the Georgia Department of Agriculture will make his program and the industry stronger.

Potandon Produce LLC, based in Idaho Falls, ID, announced the promotion of two veteran employees, Ralph Schwartz and Barbara Keckler.

The avocado category continues to deliver impressive retail growth. Last year, retail volume exceeded 1.1 billion units and retail sales topped $1.2 billion. Hass avocados continue to dominate and drive this category with a 94 percent dollar share for all avocados.