Much like the sellers of Hass avocados and mangos, the many different suppliers of asparagus sold in the United States are currently talking about putting together a federal promotion program for asparagus.

The idea is in its early stages, but a Washington, DC, lobbyist is working on the concept, and Peruvian asparagus importers, most of which also handle grass from Mexico, are aware of the idea and seem to support it.

In an effort to continue its leadership role in the single-serve salad segment, Ready Pac Foods Inc., based in Irwindale, CA, has bolstered its product development team with the hiring of Chef Thomas Helsel as its new executive research chef.

GREG MILLHORN has joined the South San Francisco branch of Coast Tropical, a wholesaler that handles a full line of tropical and domestic fruits. He is currently a buyer and a salesperson.

Idaho supermodel Chelsey Hersley, runner-up in the 2011 Cycle 15 of CW network’s “America’s Next Top

A recent Salmonella outbreak and the ensuing media coverage have cast papayas in a bad light, but a leading importer and distributor of the fruit wants retailers to know that the outbreak was limited to one variety of papaya from Mexico, and there are tremendous sales opportunities for retailers who market papayas correctly.

Melissa Hartmann de Barros, director of communications for HLB Specialties, based in Pompano Beach, FL,