With members in five time zones, "Next Big Thing," a growers' cooperative, was formed at the end of July. The apple cooperative headquarters is in Lake City, MN.

The chairman of the new co-op, which operates with the abbreviation N.B.T., is Dennis Courtier, who is also the owner and chief executive officer of Pepin Heights Orchards Inc. in Lake City, MN.

SALINAS, CA -- Mann Packing Co. Inc.'s Don Nucci -- the companys co-owner and co-chairman of the board -- died unexpectedly Monday, Sept. 4 while vacationing with his wife, Joan, in Sun River, OR.

Bill Ramsey -- the other half of the Mann Packing partnership along with Mr. Nucci -- said that the Nuccis had returned to their hotel room following a canoeing excursion.

"My understanding is that Don had a failure in his aorta," Mr. Ramsey said, adding that Mr. Nucci was rushed to a hospital where he later died.

(Produce Marketing Association President Bryan Silbermann released the following statement Sept. 6.)

NEWARK, DE -- The produce industry lost a true leader and innovator with the sudden death of Don Nucci, co-chairman of Mann Packing.

PMA staff and volunteer leaders extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Joan, his three daughters -- Lorri, DeeDee and Gina -- his stepson, Nathan Jenkins, his daughter-in-law, Debbie Nucci, his grandchildren and the entire family of Mann Packing employees.

Successful branding consultant and business author Joe Calloway will be coming to southwest Florida this month to show agricultural producers how to climb out of the commodity mindset and make their products stand out from those of their competition.

He will be spreading his message of creating and sustaining success at the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's 63rd annual convention, to be held Sept. 17-19 at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL.

Salinas, CA-based Markon Cooperative is making a push to boost its national account produce sales, recently hiring Melany Jolly for the position of vice president of national sales.

Ms. Jolly's primary responsibility will be to develop national account produce sales for Markon, a produce purchasing and marketing cooperative comprised of the leading independent broadline foodservice distributors in Canada and the United States. Markon purchases its produce from some 50 suppliers nationwide.

Fyffes PLC, based in Dublin, Ireland, announced Aug. 30 its acquisition of the remaining 50 percent of Brdr. Lembcke A/S ("Lembcke"), the Danish fresh produce company for DKK125 million ($16.8 million).

Fyffes has also acquired 100 percent of Interbanan A/S ("Interbanan") and 100 percent of Valby Bananimport A/S for a total consideration of DKK45 million ($6 million).