On May 15, the Eastern Produce Council will, for the first time in its 46-year history, hold its annual May dinner outside of its normal geographic range. This year’s event will be held at the new Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, which opened its doors in June of 2011.

John McAleavy, executive director of the EPC, told The Produce News that for the past couple of years the board and members have been striving to become more of a regional association, rather than representing produce professionals only in New York and New Jersey.

Village Farms International will host a grand opening ceremony May 17 to celebrate its newest greenhouse in Monahans, TX. The greenhouse features Village Farms' proprietary Greenhouse Advanced Technology Environment System, known as GATES.

The opening event will feature a greenhouse tour, ceremony and reception, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples is scheduled as honorary guest speaker for the event.

The Oppenheimer Group has realigned several roles to optimize service to its customers and its international grower network.

Adam Blocker has joined the sales team for Curry & Co., headquartered in Brooks, OR. "Adam is a strong addition to the Curry & Co. team," said President Matt Curry. "He has a great reputation in the industry and a passion for what he does. He will give us a constant presence in our East Coast office for both retailers and growers."

Gourmet Trading Co., a Los Angeles-based distributor of fresh asparagus and blueberries, announced that it will pack and market "Green Giant Fresh" blueberries featuring Box Tops For Education.

What is sweeter than a Georgia peach? Not much, according to the Georgia Peach Council, which recently unveiled a new advertising, public relations and social media campaign to kick off the new season, which begins in mid-May and runs through mid-August.