The Washington Apple Commission, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, is working to appoint a new president in January. This past September, former President David Carlson was placed on administrative leave, and Ken Severn was appointed interim president of the organization. According to Robin Mooney, WAC vice president and operations director, the position has been advertised in industry publications, websites and general circulation newspapers. "We have it out there," she told The Produce News in October. At that time, the commission had received 50 applications. Ms. Mooney said that she and Mr

WASHINGTON -- Jerry Welcome has been named president of the Reusable Packaging Association, based here. He started the job Nov. 3 as the first full- time president of RPA, a group whose membership has grown considerably over the past year. Mr. Welcome returns to heading a trade group after serving as executive vice president of business development at the United Fresh Produce Association from 2006 to 2008. Before that, Mr. Welcome had been president of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association for three years until it merged with United Fresh in 2006. "I am very excited to be back

Stemilt Growers Inc., based in Wenatchee, WA, is slicing its way into one of the faster-growing value-added market segments of the fresh produce industry. Two years ago, the company began slicing and bagging fresh apples, and it is currently making a big push to introduce consumers to its trademarked "AppleSweets." During the latter part of October, the product -- and the cutting-edge technology used to create the slices -- were featured on the Food Network's show, "How'd That Get on my Plate?" After conducting research that included focus group reaction to the product's flavor profile and

LA QUINTA, CA -- Wegman's Food Markets Inc., the Rochester, NY-based supermarket chain that is often credited with having one of the better produce operations in the country, has started to wade into the sustainability debate. Bill Pool, the chain's manager of agricultural production and research, was on a panel exploring the subject at the Western Growers Association convention, here, Nov. 9-12. From his company's perspective, he defined sustainability as the development of business practices and strategies that promise the long- term well being of the planet. Wegman's has embarked on an in

LA QUINTA, CA -- Western Growers Association's 83rd annual convention, held here Nov. 9-12, carried the theme "Produce, Parties & Politics," and featured a heavy dose of all three. Kevin Andrew of Sun World International was elected chairman of the board Nov. 10. Mr. Andrew, who is chief operating officer of Sun World, based in Bakersfield, CA, succeeds outgoing Chairman of the Board Robert Gray, chief executive officer of Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. in Salinas, CA. Politics took center stage at the Political Action Committee breakfast Tuesday, Nov. 11, which featured California Insurance

A trade delegation of four buyer-importers from Mexico will visit the Salinas, CA, and Fresno, CA, areas before traveling to Portland, OR, in upcoming days. Grower-shippers are encouraged to meet with and pitch their products to the delegation. Suitable products to promote include vegetables, fresh fruits such as apples, grapes, kiwi and stone fruit, as well as value-added produce products and specialty produce products. Any meetings held in Salinas would involve the delegation visiting individual companies Monday, Nov. 17, only. In the Fresno area, the delegation will make site visits to