NEW ORLEANS -- Though China is the world's top producer of both fruits and vegetables, and it is a formidable competitor in many different commodities, it will eventually become a net importer of fresh produce as its middle class continues to increase in size and demands higher value items.

That was the theme of a workshop session during the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit convention, held here.

Produce for Kids, a philanthropic organization bringing the produce industry and consumers together to provide an education platform to promote healthy eating and help raise funds for children’s nonprofit organizations, has entered its second Healthy Families, Helping Kids campaign on firm footing.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Donors-

Tommy Piazza, clerk of corporation for Community-Suffolk Inc., located at the Boston Market Terminal in Everett, MA, told The Produce News that for the entire last year the potato market was in low single digits.

“At the end of the season the remaining stored potatoes melted down, so there was a tremendous spike in the end,” he said. “When the market is overloaded, it’s not good for growers, receivers, packers, customers or anyone else.

Garden Fresh Salad Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, specializes in California vegetables, and it handles a full line of value-added prepared products for restaurants, caterers and retailers.

“Our processing plant is located here in Chelsea,” said Patrick Burke, sales and purchasing representative for the company. “We handle pretty much every type of vegetable. The foodservice sector represents the largest customer base for our processed product. We’ve been processing one type of product or another for over 40 years.”

NEW ORLEANS -- In his annual State of the Industry address, Bryan Silbermann, president and chief executive officer of the Produce Marketing Association, worked hard to conjure up the image of the late technological wizard Steve Jobs of computer fame.

Dressed in Mr. Jobs' identifiable all-black attire, Silbermann began with a joke on that subject and he referred to the Apple founder very early in his talk. All of this was seemingly well-planned to focus the audience's attention on Mr. Jobs' greatest asset: innovation.

Church Bros. has named Brian Jameson as vice president of agriculture operations, hired a new sales assistant and promoted another employee to the role of purchasing manager.

Jameson, a California State University-Chico graduate, will manage the replenishment and scheduling activities for Church Bros.’ processing partner True Leaf Farms and help manage the strategic sourcing strategy for the company.