The former chief executive officer of Customized Brokers, a Miami-based Customs brokerage, announced March 18 that Patricia Compres, its founder and former chief executive officer, has ended her 20-year tenure at the company. The split was effective March 12. Ms. Compres founded Customized Brokers in 1989 and over the last two decades developed the company into a well-respected organization, facilitating the importation of billions of dollars worth of produce from around the world, according to a March 18 press release. In March 2009, the company was acquired by Crowley Holdings Inc., which

Taylor & Fulton Packing LLC in Palmetto, FL, has added Barry Stein to its company sales team. Mr. Stein, a tomato industry veteran with 33 years of experience, joins Ed Agrisani and Jack Moon at the company. Mr. Stein's arrival also brings a valued association with Fish Farms, a large tomato grower shipper in the mountains of eastern Tennessee owned by Jimmie Fish, according to a March 26 press release from Taylor & Fulton. Fish Farms now offers fresh tomatoes from July through September, adding to Taylor & Fulton's October-through-June central and western Florida tomato deal. Taylor & Fulton

YORK, PA -- Oprah Winfrey would call it an "aha!" moment for Jason Bross. While on a trip to Australia several years ago, Mr. Bross visited a firm that was offering a line of salads that he termed "innovative." "I felt there was an opening in the market here," Mr. Bross told The Produce News. Utilizing his experience in the prepared food industry, he founded Lifestyle Foods in 2005. In five years, the firm, based in this small central Pennsylvania city, has grown to offer a lineup of about 20 healthy grab-and-go items that includes four side salads, five entrée salads, four snacks and a lunch

Seasoned produce professional Lloyd Rosen joined M&M Tropicals in Homestead, FL, March 1. Previously with William Manis Produce Marketing in Plant City, FL, Mr. Rosen has nearly 40 years of experience in the produce industry. "I had been watching M&M for a while and enjoying its growth and its involvement in taking its Latin product line into the Anglo-American marketplace," said Mr. Rosen. "The company is strong in marketing, merchandising and in broadening its customer list to accommodate the growing influence that the Latin community is exerting." Mr. Rosen added that Manuel (Manny) Hevia

WASHINGTON -- Produce companies, particularly growers, will have to brace for major cost increases in 2014 as a result of the just-passed health care reform measure unless Congress tackles the seasonal worker issue. The new law (H.R. 3590), which passed the House of Representatives March 21 by a 219-214 vote, was signed into law March 23 by President Obama. With the ink barely dry on the 2,400-page law, Democrats working on another piece of legislation (H.R. 4872) composed of tax and revenue "fixes" that were being debated on the Senate floor at press time. Under the new law, starting this

Since the early 18th century, the manner in which goods were arranged was found to be very important to attract people and entice them into making purchases. This visual merchandising principle is not new, as it is still practiced even today throughout the retail industry all over the world - especially in supermarkets. Success in the supermarket business today requires superior skills, smart planning and hard work. The art of retail selling demands an understanding and knowledge of the subject. There is no better way to learn retail produce merchandising than on-the-job experience, which