NAPLES, FL -- Members of the Florida Tomato Exchange and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange met for their annual membership meetings at the Joint Tomato Conference here at the Ritz-Carlton Naples during the morning of Sept. 6.

Attendees of the FTE's meeting were addressed by John Himmelberg of the law firm of O'Connor & Hannan LLP, who discussed pending legislation and other activities in Washington, DC, that affect the produce industry.

Sunlight International Sales Inc. in McFarland, CA, the marketing arm of Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons, has hired Bert Boyd, a former executive of American Stores and Topco Associates LLC, as vice president of marketing development, according to Nick Dulcich, a principal in Sunlight and also a partner in Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons. Mr. Boyd started with Sunlight Sept. 10.

Do you know a young person in the industry who is making a mark in produce? We would like to hear from you.

Please contact Editor John Groh at 201/986-7990 or [email protected] to discuss your idea for our Generation Next feature.

As consumption of fresh pineapple increases throughout the nation, Maui Pineapple Co. is making its extra-sweet Maui Gold pineapple available for purchase on the Internet.

Earlier this month, the company launched a new Internet promotion to boost sales of its Maui Gold pineapple. Over the next several months, the company will use a special promotional tag on over 4 million Maui Gold pineapples offering consumers up to a $10 savings when purchasing pineapples on-line at www.mauipineapple.com through Dec. 31.

Diamond Fruit Growers Inc., based in Odell, OR, has named Al Gosiak as its new chief executive. Mr. Gosiak, who is now on board full time in the position, was initially hired May 22. During a transitional period, he phased out his responsibilities as president of Pendleton Grain Growers in Umatilla County.

PGG is a 2,400-member grower cooperative with extensive experience in seed growing and cleaning. Under his 12 years of leadership, the cooperative made significant strides to produce and market biodiesel made from waste grease and oilseed crops.