LAS VEGAS, NV -- One might expect Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association, to speak enthusiastically about his association's just-concluded convention and exposition, held here May 4-7. And he did. But so did many others. "This was a great convention for us," said Frank Maconachy, president of Ramsay Highlander in Salinas, CA. "We saw growers, we saw wholesalers and we saw retailers," said Dan Vach?, vice president of foods for Sensitech Inc., headquartered in Beverly, MA. "We have customers in all of those categories, which is why it is important that we be here." "We

Are there enough good, talented produce managers available to go around the supermarket industry today? Trying to find a fully qualified and top-rated produce manager is like searching for a needle in a haystack. I have said many times that the most important people in the produce industry are produce managers. Why am I so firm on this belief? It is because I have always been surrounded by these retail store experts during my career in the food industry. I know exactly what kind of person it takes to achieve favorable produce results for a store. It takes people with leadership qualities and

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Steffanie Smith, chief executive officer of River Point Farms LLC in Hermiston, OR, was honored Monday night, May 5 at the United Fresh Produce Association's Women in Produce reception. The annual reception honors all women working in the fresh produce industry, and pays special tribute to one outstanding female industry leader. In her remarks to a crowd of several hundred attendees, Ms. Smith offered these tips to success: Never start anything you don't plan on finishing, invest in people, and be as good a listener as you are a communicator. "So many people have nurtured me

It is time to make the connection at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's 83rd annual convention and trade show. "The convention is the largest of its kind in Canada and is the best opportunity for key members of the produce industry to interact and develop business and personal relationships, which last a lifetime," Ron Lemaire, CPMA executive vice president and director of marketing, told The Produce News. The doors to the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre open May 14 against a distinctly Canadian backdrop. The theme of this year's convention is "Produce, The Natural Energy." The

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Representatives of tomatoes, leafy greens and tree fruit crops advocated commodity-specific food safety guidelines at a United Fresh Produce Association seminar during the organization's annual convention, here, May 4-7. A trio of speakers representing dozens of crops agreed on the message that one standard does not fit all, so commodity-specific guidelines are necessary. Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, updated the crowd on the significant progress that industry made to adopt verifiable standards within six months of

TFM International Inc., a produce marketing consulting firm in Mulberry, FL, is now representing Miami-based M&M Farm Inc., a grower-shipper specializing in tropicals. TFM International, previously the exclusive marketing representative of J&C Tropicals in Miami, is looking to expand its client base, according to Mark Vertrees, president and owner of the firm. "I am basically functioning as M&M's marketing manager," Mr. Vertrees said. "I created this firm to be other people's marketing directors." Mr. Vertrees founded TFM International in April 2004 to specialize in produce marketing