TRENTON, NJ -- New Jersey has 500 farms that have qualified for the state's food safety training program, according to Charles Kuperus, the state's secretary of agriculture. "We are being as proactive as we can be to really assist farmers to ramp up and meet new standards," Mr. Kuperus told The Produce News, adding that he personally had taken the food safety program in an event that was sponsored by Wegmans Food Markets, based in Rochester, NY. His own training and familiarity with the program were important to help him "understand what a farmer has to deal with." He added, "Growers are

"Research shows that consumers are looking for convenience in their shopping trips," said Brad Cook, marketing manager for Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., headquartered in Oviedo, FL. "Merchandising can help provide that convenience by positioning celery product options adjacent to one another. Whole celery, hearts, sticks, straws and branches located in the same display space make it easy for consumers to find and make selections." Duda Farm Fresh Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of A. Duda & Sons Inc., also headquartered in Oviedo, a diversified land company with a variety of agriculture and

Scott Salyer, chief executive officer of international food processor SK Foods, has become the sole owner of Salinas, CA-based Salyer American Fresh Foods Inc., a company established 20 years ago by Mr. Salyer and his family. As one of the larger fresh produce suppliers to corporate and retail customers nationwide, Salyer American Fresh Foods will become a division of SK Foods based in California in Monterey and the Central Valley. Mr. Salyer said in a statement that SK Foods has "a well-deserved reputation for processing and formulating top-of-the line fresh products for the country's largest

Note to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: When you add "multi-multi- tasking" to your list of definitions, the appropriate photo to run adjacent is that of Hannah Taylor. In early April, while seeing to last-minute details for her May 11 wedding in Othello, WA, Ms. Taylor was simultaneously finalizing plans to attend the May 5-8 United Fresh Marketplace in Chicago. She had only recently returned from Japan's Food-Ex show and was also gearing up for her family farm's July harvest and production month, when her workdays are 16-plus hours long. A lesser person might stress out ever so slightly

Maui Pineapple Co. Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. in Kahului, HI, has hired Tom Hall as its new regional sales manager. Mr. Hall will be responsible for expanding sales, implementing brand initiatives and supporting corporate objectives of both Maui Pineapple Co. and Maui Land & Pineapple Co. in Northern California, the Pacific Northwest and other select markets on the West Coast. Mr. Hall has extensive experience in the tropical fruit industry. Most recently, he was category manager for pineapples, limes and mangos at Olympic Fruit & Vegetable/Coast Tropical

Irwindale, CA-based Ready Pac Foods Inc., a premier producer of convenience fresh foods including fresh-cut produce, has hired several senior sales professionals and has announced a reorganization. Robert Spence will be joining the company as division vice president for retail sales and will be responsible for the development of Ready Pac's business in multiple central and western U.S. markets. Mr. Spence left Ready Pac two years ago to join Pacific Tomato Growers as vice president of business development. He also serves on the United Fresh Produce Association's marketing committee and is