Faison, NC-based Farm Fresh Produce Inc. hired DIANA RAMIREZ as a sales assistant on May 21.

Star Produce has expanded with a fourth Canadian distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The new facility, named Vega Processing, joins current Star Produce locations in Saskatoon, Calgary, and Burnaby, BC.

The Vega facility is 36,000 square feet of office and warehouse space and includes multiple temperature coolers, a grading and repacking area, and 12 shipping and receiving doors. Vega will handle fruit and vegetable shipments from the eastern United States, eastern Canada, Mexico, South America and South Africa that are destined for the other western provinces.  

Since its inception in the 1960s, the concept of increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has been part of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council’s mission statement in one way or another.

However, rarely over the years has this regional trade association had such a ready-made program to help achieve that goal. The salad bar donation program developed by the United Fresh Produce Association is just that vehicle.

The 2012 Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference & Exposition in Monterey, CA, on July 20-22, has a program filled with enough activities and events to wear out even the strongest and most active produce professionals. Giving them a place to chill out for a little while is a new concept at this year’s show. The Gold Circle Lounge, located off the lobby of the Portola Hotel, gives Gold Circle Contributors a lounge to relax and unwind with complimentary refreshments and massages. The lounge will be open on Saturday, July 21 at 8 a.m.

CF Fresh, an organic produce marketer based in Sedro-Woolley, WA, is bringing organic Washington apricots from Wahluke Orchards to market again this year.

“Spice World will be in booth number 129 at the PMA Foodservice Conference & Exposition,” said Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for the Orlando, FL-based company. “Mitch DiMarco, director of foodservice, and I will be there to greet attendees.”