Foreign citrus suppliers likely will recognize his name and face, but they might do a double-take when he mentions his company. Bill Weyland, well known in the produce industry and who most recently worked for DNE World Fruit Sales in Fort Pierce, FL, has been named director of imports at Seald-Sweet International. Mr. Weyland, who joined the Vero Beach, FL-based company March 27, will remain in New Jersey and head a marketing office in the New Brunswick area in the central part of the state. "Seald-Sweet has gone through some interesting new developments recently, and there is an abundance of

ELTOPIA, WA -- With fresh asparagus acreage in Mexico down by double-digit percentage points, and cool rainy weather flummoxing some California growers early this season, Washington state's estimated 33 percent increase in volume could be met by solid demand and good prices. According to Alan Schreiber, executive director of the Washington Asparagus Commission, fresh-market asparagus acreage and production nationwide have declined over the past few years, and although his state again has fewer acres in 2006, Washington is expected to put 42 million pounds into the fresh pipeline this year. Dr

FRESNO, CA -- Crown Jewels Marketing & Distribution, here, has recently expanded its staff with the addition of Robbie Mathias and Leslie Telles, both of whom come from families that are heavily involved in the U.S. produce business. Mr. Mathias is the son of Rob Mathias, president of Crown Jewels. Another uncle, Ryan Mathias, also works for Crown Jewels. Another uncle, Rodney Mathias, works for a tomato company, and his grandfather, Rich Mathias, is a buyer for Sobey's. Before coming to work for Crown Jewels, Mr. Mathias spent four-and-a-half years with Sam's Club, initially as a store-level

Salvatore (Sam) De Franco, who was a partner with his brothers for many years in the produce company his father founded, died of heart failure April 2 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81. Mr. De Franco was born May 24, 1924 in San Francisco. In 1929, his family moved to Boston, where his father, Dominic De Franco, founded the New England Tomato Co. A few years later, the family returned to California and settled in Lodi, where they began shipping table grapes to the Eastern Seaboard. In 1941, Dominic De Franco moved his family to Los Angeles where they leased a bay at the Los Angeles Produce

A record volume of Enza's Jazz apples has topped the Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer Group's list of highlights for the New Zealand pipfruit season, which is now underway. Despite anticipating nearly double the 2005 Jazz volume, Oppenheimer Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer John Anderson believes that supply will still not satisfy demand. "The exponential growth of Jazz continues," he said. "The fruit will be available in May, but we expect to be sold out by late July. We've had a hugely positive response to the Jazz variety since introducing it, and we see a bright future

Market Fresh Produce LLC in Lee's Summit, MO, has announced a new partnership structure between Anthony Totta and Steve Phipps and Jim Cipriano. Mr. Totta previously held full ownership of the company, but now the three partners hold equal shares of the firm. The new management team brings years of industry experience with it, which will be instrumental in MFP reaching the goals it has set for its future. Mr. Cipriano brings over 30 years of experience to the firm. His vast knowledge in repacking and forward distribution will be instrumental in his role with MFP. Additionally, he owns Arrow