Growers Express promoted Merritt Bruce from director of national accounts to the company’s vice president of sales. Mr. Bruce has been an employee of Grower’s Express since 1990, working in a number of sales roles to help customers of all sizes identify opportunities for growth and ultimately aid them in reaching their own business goals.

Sunrise Growers-Frozsun Foods in Placentia, CA, announced Feb. 4 that it has hired Mark Murai, president of the California Strawberry Commission, to fill the newly created position of vice president of strategy and development.

The commission's staff was notified Jan. 31 that Mr. Murai would be leaving to take a position at Sunrise but deferred to Sunrise to make the official public announcement.

DAVID FEDERLE joined Miami-based Dave’s Specialty Imports as a sales executive, effective Feb. 6.

Prior to joining the company, Mr. Federle held various positions with Southern Specialties, Ayco Farms, Central American Produce, Chiquita and Del Monte.

Jim DiMenna, president of JemD Farms, headquartered in Leamington, ON, is currently serving a one-year term as chairman of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. His term began at the 2012 CPMA convention in Calgary in April and will draw to a close when he turns over the gavel at the 2013 convention on April 17-19 in Toronto.

While an emphasis on food safety, traceability and quality is not necessarily new to California Giant Berry Farms, the company is focusing more intensely on them this year, according to Cindy Jewell, marketing director.

The 2013 California Citrus Showcase, scheduled to be held Thursday, March 7, in Visalia, CA, will feature Greg Calistro, executive director of produce for Savemart Supermarkets, as luncheon speaker.

"He is going to give a keynote address entitled The Game Changers: Industry and Consumer Trends," said Bob Blakely, director of industry relations for California Citrus Mutual in Exeter, CA, which puts on the annual event.