The U.S. Department of Justice will not prosecute 10 executives at Cincinnati- based Chiquita Brands International who were involved in a payoff of Colombian terrorists, according to Associated Press reports. The decision was part of a sentencing memo that urged U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth to fine Chiquita $25 million and have the company serve five years probation. The sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 17. If accepted, the fine would mark the largest criminal penalty ever imposed under U.S. global terrorism sanctions laws. In a statement, Chiquita Chairman and Chief Executive

NAPLES, FL -- Members of the Florida Tomato Exchange and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange met for their annual membership meetings at the Joint Tomato Conference here at the Ritz-Carlton Naples during the morning of Sept. 6. Attendees of the FTE's meeting were addressed by John Himmelberg of the law firm of O'Connor & Hannan LLP, who discussed pending legislation and other activities in Washington, DC, that affect the produce industry. Mr. Himmelberg said that the new farm bill had passed the House of Representatives and would be taken up by the Senate this month. While he described it as

Sunlight International Sales Inc. in McFarland, CA, the marketing arm of Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons, has hired Bert Boyd, a former executive of American Stores and Topco Associates LLC, as vice president of marketing development, according to Nick Dulcich, a principal in Sunlight and also a partner in Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons. Mr. Boyd started with Sunlight Sept. 10. "I brought him in to be my marketing guru," Mr. Dulcich said. "He knows lots of people in the industry. He knows a lot of vice presidents in the procurement side of the retail trade. He is recognized, he is experienced and he knows

Do you know a young person in the industry who is making a mark in produce? We would like to hear from you. Please contact Editor John Groh at 201/986-7990 or groh@theproducenews.com to discuss your idea for our Generation Next feature.

National Apple Month's retail display contest began Sept. 1 and will run through the end of November, allowing supermarkets across the United States ample time to feature one of autumn's premier categories. The contest is open to all retailers in the United States as well as to all military commissaries in this country and abroad, according to NAM Director Kay Rentzel. There are three sponsors for this year's program, conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Apple Association: Kraft Global Inc., with its "Caramels" and "Caramel Bites"; the National Peanut Board, with its fresh in-shell peanuts

As consumption of fresh pineapple increases throughout the nation, Maui Pineapple Co. is making its extra-sweet Maui Gold pineapple available for purchase on the Internet. Earlier this month, the company launched a new Internet promotion to boost sales of its Maui Gold pineapple. Over the next several months, the company will use a special promotional tag on over 4 million Maui Gold pineapples offering consumers up to a $10 savings when purchasing pineapples on-line at www.mauipineapple.com through Dec. 31. "This is a tremendous opportunity for consumers throughout the country to get a taste