KANSAS CITY, KS -- Liberty Fruit Co. Inc., here, celebrated its 40th year in business Saturday, June 18, with a wonderful party at its facility. The name "Liberty" was originated by Issie and Lee Caviar, who had a weekend fruit stand on Highway 50 in the 1950s and '60s. In 1965, Liberty Fruit Co. was founded and opened at the City Market in Kansas City, MO. Mr. Caviar and his wife, Mary, had one stall and sold mostly to the public and later to some small stores. They used a yellow Dodge pickup as their first truck. Their son, Arnold Caviar, worked weekends in the late 1960s while holding a

A former vice president of the National Food Processors Association and scientist with Campbell Soup Co. and Kraft Foods has joined the Alexandria, VA-based International Fresh-cut Produce Association as its new vice president for technical services. David Gombas, who holds a doctorate in food microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, fills the position at IFPA formerly held by Jim Gorny in an expanded role that will include directing IFPA's technical, food-safety, regulatory, public policy and training programs. He brings extensive association and corporate experience to IFPA, in

Bryan Silbermann, president of the Produce Marketing Association, is of the belief that with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's newly released Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid, fresh produce marketers have a wealth of federally funded tools to bolster fruit and vegetable sales. Because of this position and in light of the new information, PMA hosted a webinar June 28 to discuss these topics and tools. Moderated by Mr. Silbermann, the webinar featured speakers Steve N. Christensen from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Elizabeth Pivonka from the Produce for Better Health Foundation and Mary

Thermal, CA-based Rivera Vineyards Inc. has settled a lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September 2003 on behalf of a group of employees -- mostly Hispanic women -- who alleged they were sexually harassed, retaliated against for complaining and segregated into certain jobs based on gender. The judgment was for $1.05 million, one of the larger employment discrimination settlements by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the agribusiness industry and the second $1 million hit by the EEOC against the industry in the

The first shipment of New Zealand kiwifruit destined for A.J. Trucco at the Hunts Point Market in the Bronx, NY, arrived in the United States on June 10. That shipment set a milestone for the company, which is an importer of specialty and conventional produce, nuts and dried fruit. A.J. Trucco will now be able to offer its customers an uninterrupted annual supply of kiwifruit. Nick Pacia, vice president of A. J. Trucco, said that this is the first year the company is importing from New Zealand, which is known worldwide for its high quality and large supplies of kiwifruit. Until now, A. J

Dan Wyant, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, announced June 20 that he will step down from the post which he has held for nine years on July 29. The Michigan Commission of Agriculture in October 1996 appointed Mr. Wyant to the position. He has accepted a position as president and chief operating officer of the Edward Lowe Foundation, a private operating foundation that assists entrepreneurs. The foundation is located on 2,500 acres of rural farmland in Cassopolis, MI. Mr. Wyant, a native of Michigan's Cass County, brought a vast agricultural background to MDA with a bachelor