The California Avocado Commission and Frieda's Inc. are combining forces in a consumer recipe promotion for Fresh California Avocado Crepe-Wraps. The promotion is scheduled to run from April 1 through Sept. 4. The promotion theme, "They Play Well Together," assures retailers and consumers that avocados and crepes go together and taste very good, according to Tristan Kieva, Frieda's vice president of sales and marketing. "You have two marketing companies that focus on promoting these products in a new and unique way. We're showing we can pair up together and come up with something the consumer

Dominic Francis DiMare, founder of the DiMare Co., died March 19 of respiratory failure in Miami, FL. He was 94. Born Jan. 4, 1912, Mr. DiMare started selling produce from a pushcart when he was 13 years old. He and his brothers, Anthony DiMare and Joseph DiMare, built a produce company that is now among the leading fresh tomato companies, with farming operations in California, Florida and South Carolina, and repacking and sales operations in seven states. The last of 12 children, Mr. DiMare grew up on Boston's Hale Street in what was known then as the West End. As a young boy, he played

The Produce Marketing Association's International Council met in Shanghai, China, from Feb. 26 through March 1 with Rabobank North East Asia representative Patrick Vizzone to explore the opportunities and challenges in the global produce supply chain and, more specifically, on China's current and future role as a significant exporter and importer of fruits and vegetables. The findings from the collaboration are being incorporated into a white paper PMA will make available May 15. The International Council, chaired by Michael Simonetta, chief executive officer of Perfection Fresh Australia

ORADELL, NJ -- The Produce News has announced the promotion of Joel Gebet to Canadian sales manager, effective March 13. In this new position, Mr. Gebet will take charge of all advertising sales in Canada, as well as be in a lead position for planning and implementing editorial coverage of Canadian clientele and issues. Mr. Gebet, who earned his bachelor's degree in journalism and mass media in 2002 from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, joined The Produce News last May as an account executive. Prior to that, he worked as a reporter and writer for several newspapers and trade magazines

The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association announced that television news legend Ted Koppel will address attendees of the 2006 United Produce Show at FMI, May 6-9 in Chicago. On Sunday, May 7, Mr. Koppel will present a talk entitled "Insight Spanning the Decades," providing an in-depth look into relevant news stories from across the world, including politics, international affairs, economics and the evolution of television. The 41-time Emmy winner also will relate candid stories about events that have influenced history and continue to affect our future. Former anchor of "Nightline" and a

The strawberry industry was among the very early segments of the produce industry to embrace the use of clear plastic clamshells for retail consumer packs. The preponderance of fresh strawberries now goes to market in clamshells. They are popular for many reasons: they display the product well, they protect it, they extend shelf life and reduce shrink, and they reduce labor costs at store level. But there are downsides, one being the amount of non-biodegradable plastic waste generated by their use. There is, however, an environmentally friendly alternative: clear clamshells made from a