Montreal-based HIDE-Pack and Frisco, TX-based Domino Integrated Solutions Group have teamed to develop a method of implementing radio frequency identification technology in a wide variety of packaged goods by embedding an RFID inlay within the structure of a package. The HIDE-Pack concept -- an approach to integrated RFID-enabled packaging -- is a patent-pending technology owned by HIDE-Pack and available commercially through Domino ISG. The embedded RFID inlay is not visible from the outside or inside the package. It becomes an integral part of the packaging and results in significant capital

A 7.7 earthquake that struck northern Chile Nov. 14 is expected to have no effect on the country's fruit exports. Tom Tjerandsen, managing director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association in Sonoma, CA, told The Produce News a couple of hours after the quake that it was "in the far north in the dry desert area." He contacted the trade in Santiago and Valparaiso after the quake "and no one felt anything," he said. "It won't have any impact on the food exports heading north from Chile." Mark Greenberg, senior vice president of procurement for Fisher Capespan in Montreal, said shortly after the

The Canadian produce industry is a close-knit group that can be compared to a large extended family. That family lost one of its more beloved and respected members on Nov. 8 when Cory Clack-Streef, president of Mississauga, ON-based Faye Clack Communications, died following a two- year battle with breast cancer. She was 46. "Cory knew and was intimately connected to every facet of the food industry," Virginia Clack-Zimm, her sister and business partner, said in a statement. "Whether it was communicating with the trade or dealing with the complex network of U.S. and Canadian government agencies

WASHINGTON -- A Senate vote cast Nov. 16 failed to end the stalemate on the 2007 farm bill, a move that could jeopardize the hard-fought funding reforms for specialty crop programs this year. The Senate fell five votes short (55-42) of the 60 votes needed to limit the debate on the $286 billion bill, raising doubts about whether the Senate can break the impasse after the Thanksgiving recess, shepherd the bill through conference committee and deliver it to President Bush before the end of the session. In fact, some lawmakers are suggesting that a bipartisan bill may not pass until 2008 or 2009

Steve Kenfield, who joined SunFed in Nogales, AZ, as vice president of sales and marketing about a year ago and who was quickly promoted to president, has now returned to California's San Joaquin Valley and accepted employment at The HMC Group Marketing in Kingsburg, CA. Before going to SunFed, he had been president of Ripe 'N Ready in Parlier, CA, for several years. Previously he was president of Kings Canyon-Corrin LLC in Reedley, CA. Amy Adams, newly named vice president of sales and marketing at SunFed, told The Produce News Nov. 9, on authorization of Danny Mandel, SunFed's chief

MAUI, HI -- Bob Gray of Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. in Salinas, CA, was elected chairman of the board of Western Growers at its 82nd annual meeting, held here, Monday, Nov. 12. Mr. Gray was previously senior vice chairman and replaces Steve Patricio of Westside Produce in Firebaugh, CA, who just completed what he called one of the "most challenging" years in the history of the association. Giving the chairman's report on Monday at the group's "Major Luncheon," Mr. Patricio said that four very important issues all reached a high point of discussion and action over the past 12 months: food safety