TFM International Inc., a produce marketing consulting firm in Mulberry, FL, is now representing Miami-based M&M Farm Inc., a grower-shipper specializing in tropicals.

TFM International, previously the exclusive marketing representative of J&C Tropicals in Miami, is looking to expand its client base, according to Mark Vertrees, president and owner of the firm.

"I am basically functioning as M&M's marketing manager," Mr. Vertrees said. "I created this firm to be other people's marketing directors."

Shaun Ricks, who for the last six years has been manager of the grape division of Salinas, CA-based Pacific International Marketing, announced Wednesday, April 30, that he has started his own company, The Grape Guys.

The new company "is made up of three active partners" and a silent equity partner, he said. Mr. Ricks is president, and the other active partners are Greg Irby, who is chief financial officer, and Mark Kalafut, who is sales manager. Mr. Irby and Mr. Kalafut were also previously with PIM.

New potato acreage has reversed course in California's Kern County, dropping from 9,268 acres in 2007 to 8,362 in 2008, a decline of nearly 10 percent, according to published data from the Kern County Department of Agriculture.

The figures exclude the Kern County Department of Agriculture's category for "chippers," or potato chips, a category that is not used in the calculations by the Kern County Shippers Association. Also, one major Kern County packingshed does not publicly release its acreage and therefore is not included in the totals.

Mario Batali, the celebrity guru of Italian restaurants in America, claims that the keys to the cuisine in his restaurants are freshness and simplicity. But that mantra is almost contradictory to what patrons express after dining at any of the 14 restaurants.

Sweetbay Supermarket, the Tampa, FL-based supermarket company of the Belgium-based Delhaize Group, has named Lori Malcolm vice president of human resources at the supermarket chain.

Ms. Malcolm's primary responsibilities include promoting Sweetbay's passion for food and passion for people among associates, senior managers, and operating officers and directors. She will also be responsible for enhancing Sweetbay's corporate culture and values, helping to create a vibrant place to work for the employees.

Market data recently released by AC Nielsen indicate that sliced apples marketed by Crunch Pak LLC in Cashmere, WA, rank among the top prepared food items consumed.

Crunch Pak Director of Marketing Tony Freytag said that the one-pound bag of sweet apple slices was fourth on the list, and the company's tart apple slices ranked 12th. This is no small feat, he noted, because the overall list includes 1,400 items classified as prepared foods.