Sophie Perreault loves her job. In fact, she loves serving as the executive director of the Quebec Produce Marketing Association so much that at times she said that she spend hours at it and has to remind herself to turn off her computer and do something else. That "something else" often means volunteering in the community for organizations such as the United Nations Chidrens' Fund and for the Defi Sportif, one of the world's larger sporting events for disabled athletes that takes place in Montreal every April. "I think that people in the produce industry work really hard and forget to take

Connecticut's vegetable production season began early this year with favorable weather in April. Farmers were excited about getting into their fields earlier than usual, and were able to plant many crops ahead of schedule. Then came the rain. Then came more. And still more. The entire state experienced much heavier-than-normal precipitation throughout May and June. Vegetable production areas were soaked, making field work nearly impossible for most of those two months. Spring was very challenging for Connecticut's farmers. Weather has improved significantly, however, and we are pleased to

A nice mix of business and social events was enjoyed by roughly 300 people who attended Indianapolis Fruit's 19th annual trade show and golf outing July 24-25 in Indianapolis. Kicking off the two-day event July 24 were presentations at the Indiana State Museum by Bryan Silbermann, president of the Produce Marketing Association, and Tonya Antle, vice president of organic sales for Earthbound Farm, a leading distributor of organic produce based in San Juan Bautista, CA. Following the presentations, an exposition was held featuring products from over 80 produce and floral vendors. Indianapolis

Salinas, CA-based Classic Salads doesn't yet know what led to a recent sample of the company's product testing positive for Salmonella contamination, but the company is attempting to get to the bottom of the problem. According to Classic Salads Sales Manager Lex Camany, the company was alerted through a third-party audit conducted by Primus Labs to a presumptive positive test result at 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Thursday, July 27. An hour later, it began voluntary recall procedures for the entire day's harvest in question: the July 24 harvest of baby spinach and spring mix from various

WASHINGTON -- Most of the International Fresh-Cut Produce Association staff has moved into the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association headquarters, here, as the two groups wrap up the final legal details for the merger, according to IFPA President Jerry Welcome. "This move marks a milestone in the process of our merger with the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association as we join forces to form the new United Fresh Produce Association," said Mr. Welcome. "Both IFPA and UFFVA will continue to deliver value to each of our members until the formal merger later this summer, but we are pleased

EATON, CO -- At a time when young people are flocking from rural America to seek their way in concrete urban jungles, 23-year-old Ryan Fagerberg is a young man who's breaking the rules. Mr. Fagerberg, son of Fagerberg Produce Co. founder Lynn Fagerberg, is quite a chip off the old block. In early July, a little more than seven months following his graduation from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, he found himself happy, contented and thriving in the area he knows like the back of his hand. Aside from his birth, which took place in Greeley, Mr. Fagerberg said that he has lived most