The America Trades Produce Conference promises to be as relevant as the two prior events, and the third-annual conference, scheduled for March 6-8 at the McAllen Convention Center in McAllen, TX, will add a trade expo and food-safety discussions to the agenda.

As has been the trademark of the event, educational sessions will encourage direct dialogue between the industry and U.S. and Mexican government officials.

Daniel B. Hinkle, president of Hinkle Produce in Cissna Park, IL, died Dec. 24 at Hoopeston Community Hospital in Hoopeston, IL, following a prolonged illness. He was 67.

Mr. Hinkle, known by his friends, family, colleagues and business associates as Dan, was born July 20, 1945, in Watseka, IL, to Clifford and Luradean (Jean) Brown Hinkle.

United Fresh Produce Association announced the promotion of Miriam Wolk to vice president of membership and marketing. In her new position, Ms. Wolk will lead marketing efforts to drive member engagement and company participation. She will also continue to direct the programs and outreach initiatives that she has successfully cultivated as senior director of membership.

Families in need had a merrier holiday season thanks to the diligent efforts of Haun Potato Co., potato growers in the Red River Valley and The Salvation Army.

On Dec. 13, 42,000 pounds of fresh potatoes were distributed to dozens of charities that help feed the hungry in the Kansas City area through The Salvation Army’s Christmas Food Basket project.

Luciano Fiszman, procurement manager for Gourmet Trading Co. in Los Angeles said that the company distributes blueberries that are produced from the 5th Region to the 10th Region of Chile into both coasts of the United States, Canada and to Asia.

“Our season begins in November with a perfect transition from Argentina and ends in April, right when we start with our own crop in California,” said Mr. Fiszman. We grow, pack and ship blueberries from our farm in the Central Valley of California.”

The Nogales, AZ, office of Monterey, CA-based Sun Crest-Bollinger International Inc. is basically a brokerage operation handling a full line of the produce commodities that come through Nogales.