A produce industry program is underway to help rebuild schools damaged in the devastating earthquake that struck the principal Chilean fruit growing regions Feb. 27. The board of the Chilean Exporters Association, based in Santiago, Chile, announced April 16 that it had selected two agricultural schools that sustained substantial damage for the initial repair effort. The institutions are the Escuela Agrícola Cristo Obrero in Graneros, which is south of Santiago, and Escuela Agrícola San Vicente de Paul, located in Chile's Coltauco area. In a mid-April press release, ASOEX invited fresh fruit

For more than 50 years, Gilroy, CA-based Christopher Ranch has been a leader in agricultural production, product innovation and earth-friendly environmental practices. In keeping with that proud tradition, Christopher Ranch has introduced its new "green" foodservice pack in three- and five- pound sizes. "We've done our due diligence with materials research and product prototypes to ensure our new packaging satisfies our environmental priorities as well as satisfying the handling, storage and operations needs of our customers," Jeff Stokes, Christopher Ranch vice president of sales and leader

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Leaders in the fields of school nutrition and food safety kept the momentum of United Fresh 2010 going Wednesday, April 21. The annual convention and expo of the United Fresh Produce Association featured keynote addresses by officials from the New York City Department of Education and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. At the show's breakfast general session, officials from New York City SchoolFood, the office that oversees the city's school foodservice operations, addressed the challenges and successes of feeding 1.1 million students each school day in the nation's largest

LAS VEGAS, NV -- At the annual Reception Honoring Women in Produce held here Wednesday, April 21, in connection with the United Fresh Produce Association's 2010 convention and trade show, Lorri Koster, co-chairman of Mann Packing Co. in Salinas, CA, received the 2010 Award of Excellence for a Woman in Produce. Ms. Koster, who represents the third generation in her family to work in agriculture, began her produce career in 1990 at Mann Packng Co., her family's business, as communications and marketing director. She was subsequently vice president of ProduceOnline.com as well as publisher and

Maria Lena (Mylene) Pacheco joined the Newark, DE-based Produce Marketing Association's staff April 1 in the newly created position of vice president of member value creation. She leads the creation of value for PMA's membership worldwide, including understanding member needs and developing value offerings to meet or exceed those needs. In her new role, Ms. Pacheco is leading staff teams that are responsible for research and development, events, and education. She came to PMA from the financial services industry, where she gained more than 15 years of experience in product management, new

Rock Butera, vice president of global sales and marketing for Nuovo International in Nashville, TN, told The Produce News that the full-service and marketing firm continues to focus strongly on the produce industry. "Although we focus on six major industries - social media planning, music promotions, small business consulting, health clubs, finance and insurance, and the produce industry - produce is the backbone of our company and is where we place most of our resources and energies," said Mr. Butera. "Our strongest and most long-term relationships are with companies that produce or deal in