Broetje Orchards, headquartered in Prescott, WA, is working with commodity suppliers to create a new cooperative marketing organization. Business Manager Jim Hazen said that a board of directors is expected to be seated and an administrative office will be opened by Aug. 17, just in time for the 2009-10 apple season. Owner and operator Ralph Broetje said that the decision to pursue independent marketing fits in well with the company's philosophy of operation. "This new independent marketing company will be grower-owned and customer-focused, while providing an opportunity for those customers to

FRESNO, CA -- Thousands of farmers, farmworkers and ordinary Californians along with a number of politicians gathered at a rally in front of city hall here Wednesday, July 1, to protest not the actions of city officials (who were actually supportive of the rally) but of state and federal officials who have restricted water deliveries to farms in the San Joaquin Valley in favor of a small fish called the Delta Smelt. Deliveries of agricultural water from the Federal Water Project were terminated after a federal judge, citing the Endangered Species act, prohibited pumping water from the

Driscoll Strawberry Associates has named industry veteran Greg Andersen as its new retail sales manager. He succeeds Tim Youmans, who was promoted to vice president of sales in March. Mr. Andersen will be responsible for all retail program planning and sales activities for U.S. and Canadian accounts. "My job is creating and cultivating relationships with our key retail partners for the long term," Mr. Andersen said in a press release. "That means planning for the continuing profitability of some of our key stakeholders -- the retail customer and the grower -- and delighting consumers with the

Foodservice and produce leaders from across the supply chain will want to make certain they are in the room July 25 when industry principals convene to discuss the implications of new research about produce's role in growing the foodservice industry's business at the Produce Marketing Association's 2009 Foodservice Conference & Exposition, being held July 24-26 in Monterey, CA. This year's conference kicks off with the Executive Think Tank: Summary and Discussion, during which the first public report on new research into foodservice operators' attitudes and input about produce and what key

After four years with Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, and nearly 30 years in the produce industry, export salesman Mike Lust has announced his retirement. Mr. Lust, who joined Oneonta in June 2005, said he plans to spend his time gardening, playing golf and fishing. Mr. Lust and his wife of 32 years, Betty, have five grown children and two grandchildren, and his retirement will also provide more family time as well as opportunity to revisit many places he saw previously during business trips. "I would like to see more than airports, hotels and fruit markets," he quipped. A native

Unprocessed fruits and vegetables automatically qualify for a new front-of- package labeling program that is designed to make it easier for consumers to make healthy choices while shopping. The effort, called the Smart Choice program, is expected to be rolled out at retail in mid-August complete with a public relations and promotion program. This nutrition-labeling program was developed through a cooperative effort by NSF International and the American Society for Nutrition. NSF International, which was the catalyst for the idea, is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies