Bonnie Fernandez has been selected as the new executive director of the Center for Produce Safety at the University of California-Davis. Ms. Fernandez, who currently serves as the executive director of the California Wheat Commission, will assume the new position March 1. She has served with the wheat commission since 1984, including 15 years as its executive director. She holds a master's degree in business administration from California State University-Sacramento and a bachelor's degree in agricultural business management from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. She has

A group of California agriculturists led by the state's secretary of agriculture, A.G. Kawamura, traveled to Cuba in January, and the produce representatives returned believing that there is opportunity to do some business. Mr. Kawamura's group represented a wide range of commodities, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, raisins, cheese, rice and cotton. He told The Produce News that "California was following the lead of 18 other states in attempting to establish a trading relationship with Cuba." Mr. Kawamura, who was a well-known strawberry grower-shipper before being appointed to the

Consumer interest in fresh organic produce has proven to be a significant driving force for Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers. The family-owned company, which began in 1955 as a door-to-door operation in Golden, CO, opened its 26th store Jan. 15 in Colorado Springs, CO. This latest addition expands the company's regional visibility in Colorado and New Mexico. "It's a very well-prepared store," said Vice President of Marketing Nancy Flynn. "It was a very productive opening. People have been asking for more produce." Vitamin Cottage stores are designed to be warm and friendly. Produce Coordinator

The 2008 Mexican tomato season is shaping up to be one of the better ones in several years, with reliable supplies and steady markets expected, according to industry sources. "The season started light, but now we are moving into some great crops," said Javier (J.J.) Badillo, director of diversified products for Calavo Inc., who oversees Calavo's Mexican tomato program from the company's Nogales, AZ, office. He told The Produce News Jan. 30 that he expects to see "high quality and consistent supplies" throughout the balance of the season. Mr. Badillo's comments are representative of what

REEDLEY, CA -- Family Tree Farms, here, has announced the addition of Eric Wuhl to its staff as director of research and development, overseeing all activities of the company's new research and development center that is scheduled to be operational in about a month. The announcement was made in a Jan. 28 press release. Mr. Wuhl is a stone fruit grower and breeder, although his role at Family Tree Farms will not involve breeding but rather the evaluation of new varieties to determine whether they are viable from a cultural standpoint in the central San Joaquin Valley and whether they meet the

Dave Warsh, owner of Warsh Farm in Center, CO, has been named vice chairman of the United Potato Growers of America board of directors. Mr. Warsh, a first-generation farmer, came to Colorado from Waukesha, WI, and has been farming for 25 years. He brings a wealth of experience in the potato industry to the table. Mr. Warsh is a founding director of United Potato Growers of America, and he served for two years as secretary-treasurer of the organization. In addition to his current duties with UPGA, Mr. Warsh also serves as president of the United Fresh Potato Growers of Colorado, and was a