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Bornsen leaves Wash. Potato Commission

Shannen Bornsen, former director of international trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, has left that organization to take a position in international trade with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Ms. Bornsen, who had been with the Washington commission since February 2002, began her new job Monday, Jan. 3, relocating to Minneapolis. Starting as director of marketing for the potato commission, Ms. Bornsen moved into international trade in mid-2003, traveling with a number of trade-commission groups to the Pacific Rim, Mexico and Cuba. Her contributions to the commission were

IN THE TRENCHES: Back in the dunk tank

While walking through a carnival with my wife last summer, I noticed a great number of game booths set up for fun and entertainment. The game that caught my interest the most was the dunk tank. It had the biggest crowd gathered in front of it yelling and screaming for some guy to throw a ball at a little red metal bulls-eye target. You?ve seen this game before. Some goofy looking clown in full regalia sits over a tank of water and makes funny faces at the person who is throwing the balls. If that person hits the bulls-eye with enough force, the seat will fall out from under the clown and dump

John Karrat, founder of Karrat Bros., was 95

John G. Karrat, who founded Karrat Bros. Wholesale Fruit & Produce in the 1930s, died Dec. 18. He was 95. Born in Utica, NY, in 1909, Mr. Karrat began his career in the produce industry with a small truck and a small route, peddling produce at the age of 21. In the mid-1930s, he and his brother, Nayef, started Karrat Bros. As owner and buyer for the company, he spent much time on the old Washington Street Market in New York buying produce for his company in Utica. He was also a fixture in the Buffalo market in the 1950s and 1960s. When a fire destroyed the family?s warehouse in 1966, Mr

John Vena Inc. adds warehouse operations manager

PHILADELPHIA " John Vena Inc. announced the addition of a new warehouse operations manager to oversee its recently purchased facility on Galloway Street. Joseph Aquilino has extensive experience in all aspects of produce operations management. ?Joe will develop this operation from the ground up," said John Vena, president of John Vena Inc. "We are confident that Joe has the expertise to pilot our new enterprise in the right direction." The main operation will provide a range of services centered on short-term storage and forward distribution of greenhouse products. In addition, the facility

Farmer's Best receives top honor

Agricola Tarriba in Culiacan, Sinaloa, the Mexican sister company of Farmers Best International in Nogales, AZ, was recently named Exporter of the Year by Mexican President Vincente Fox. General Director Ivan Tarriba Haza accepted the award on behalf of Agricola Tarriba. In a ceremony held in Mexico City in early December, President Fox presented Agricola Tarriba with the highest honor awarded to Mexican companies that have exhibited strength, ingenuity and strong business practices in reaching key export markets. Companies awarded this honor are seen as an example for the rest of Mexico in

Mexico lifting tariff on Wash. apples

A 46.6 percent tariff imposed by the Mexican government on Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples from Washington will be lifted in late February, ending nearly 18 months of penalization against Northwest exporters for selling at prices below market. According to Jim Archer, manager of Northwest Fruit Exporters in Yakima, WA, negotiators made public the announcement on Monday, Jan. 3 that the tariff, imposed in August 2002, was to be lifted. The Mexican government published the agreement Dec. 29, and Mr. Archer said initially that his group anticipated full duty-free access would be
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After 10 years as general manager for the Star Roses and Plants facilities in West Grove, PA, Steve Ramsay has moved into a new role with the company and has been succeeded by Alex Wharton.

Wharton, who joined the company in 2017, has advanced through several roles with increasing responsibility, from his start as a grower tech to his most recent position as assistant general manager. He holds a degree in horticulture science from Oregon State University.

“This was absolutely a planned and strategic transition,” said Bradd Yoder, president of Star Roses and Plants. “Alex has shown incredible leadership and is highly respected by our team. He also has the curiosity and desire to experiment and problem-solve, which is invaluable to our company and industry at large. I am confident in his ability to succeed in this role.”

Ramsay remains with Star Roses and Plants as a grower consultant for internal teams and external partners. He will also manage several special projects.

“I can’t think of many people who have had a greater impact on our company and our industry than Steve,” Yoder said. “I am incredibly grateful for all his contributions and his guidance through this transition. His depth of knowledge as a grower is going to be invaluable to our customers.”

The leadership transition took place over three years, ensuring all processes continued at full capacity with no effect on customers. The West Grove facility includes a greenhouse for propagation and growing, as well as acreage for container and in-ground trials.

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