Coral Gables, FL-based Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. unveiled the newest addition to its value-added category with the June 7 launch of its microwavable vegetable line. The company developed this line to offer consumers a new and convenient way to enjoy a daily serving of steamed vegetables. "We are enthusiastically looking forward to consumers' response to the new microwavable vegetables, a delicious product that will be an immensely popular extension to Del Monte's ever- expanding product line," Matt Smith, vice president of marketing, said in a statement. The microwavable vegetable

Retailers and consumers alike are always on the lookout for new products. What makes new products succeed is an element of differentiation, quality and need. Onenew product ready to fill a gap is "Tremendo" chili peppers, a brand of chili peppers differentiated by its distinctively large size. In fact, "Tremendo" jalape?os, the first of the "Tremendo" peppers to come to market, grow to a size of four to five inches in length, compared to the two to three inches a typical jalape?o reaches. The first cases of "Tremendo" jalape?os were harvested in Mexico and were scheduled to ship from south

Darby Jones, who has served as the Washington State Horticultural Association's communications coordinator for four years, will be stepping down to return to the private sector June 15. Her successor, Lynette Smith, has already stepped into the rather large shoes left behind by Ms. Jones. As part of her responsibilities in media relations, Ms. Jones has been actively involved in publishing Headlines for HORT, providing weekly e-mail updates, planning for annual events, helping with the association's memorial scholarship and working on the Tree Fruit Day in Olympia. Ms. Jones served under three

The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, based in Washington, DC, announced that it has hired Autumn Veazey as director of legislative affairs and associate counsel. "Autumn brings a great set of credentials to this position at United," United President Tom Stenzel said in a statement. "Her family has strong roots in the produce industry, and we will be able to utilize her personal background along with her professional training to enhance and expand our government relations expertise in Washington, DC." Prior to joining United, Ms. Veazey served as a litigation attorney for the firm of

The ending to this story hasn't been written yet, so it's impossible to classify it. Is it a story with a happy ending showing how a small firm with a good idea can make it in the marketplace? Is it a sad story showing how big the retail industry has gotten so that new product introductions are the sole domain of the multi-national companies? Or will it end up being the tale of an item that seemed to be a good idea but just didn't find enough of a marketing niche to make it? Bill Vogel, president of Tavilla Sales in Los Angeles, isn't quite sure how this story is going to end, but he's betting

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced June 6 that a statewide quarantine will be imposed next season on the shipments of fresh Florida citrus fruit to other citrus-producing states. The quarantine will allow the continued shipment of fresh fruit to non-citrus-producing states and other countries under certain restrictions. The rules governing the quarantine are expected to be published by the end of this summer. While this quarantine may prove devastating for some Florida citrus companies whose primary markets are other citrus- producing states, the Florida citrus industry recognizes