Southern Specialties, a grower, importer, processor and shipper of a variety of specialty products grown in Central America, South America, Mexico, Canada and the United States, has named Jeff Reid vice president of operations.

Reid will oversee development and execution of strategic objectives to maximize growth and profitability for the Pompano Beach, FL-based company.

Several produce growers are teaming with Sony Pictures Animation and Feeding America on a campaign tied to the highly anticipated animated comedy, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, based in Wenatchee, WA, announced the addition of ELLIE TUCKER to its domestic and organic sales team on June 3.

Tucker, a Washington native who grew up on a Wenatchee pear orchard, is following her family’s tradition of working in the fruit industry.

“Albert’s Organics is pleased to announce the opening of two new distribution centers; one in New Jersey and one in Colorado,” said Simcha Weinstein, director of marketing for the leading national distributor of organic products headquartered in Santa Cruz, CA. “The new warehouses will replace our existing warehouses currently located in Bridgeport, New Jersey, and in Aurora, Colorado. These new facilities will allow us to provide greater service to our customers in both the greater Rocky Mountain region as well as on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic East Coast areas.”

Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, said that the company is completely vertically integrated in the garlic Industry.

“We have a seed program and we process and pack garlic in every imaginable way-some of which are exclusive to our company,” said Hymel. “And we market direct to all segments of the food industry: from A to Z.”

Black Gold Farms, based in Grand Forks, ND, has teamed with McCormick Produce Partners to create an easy-to-prepare, value-added fresh potato side dish packed with flavor.

Black Gold Farms — a fourth-generation, family-owned farm — will introduce its one-of-a-kind product this summer: a fresh package of red potatoes, expertly paired with one of three McCormick Produce Partners seasoning blends. The blend choices include roasted Italian herbs, roasted onion and garlic, and roasted garlic and rosemary.