Southern Specialties, based in Pompano Beach, FL, has launched its "Paradise" tropicals branded line. The name "Paradise" will be used as part of the product identification for the company's mangos, papayas, avocados and limes. More products will be added to the line in the near future. Southern Specialties has created an eye-catching new box and PLU sticker for each "Paradise" product. The boxes and PLU stickers feature hot colors that attract the consumer and evoke the tropics. Southern Specialties offers year-round tropical programs with product sourced from seven countries in North America

Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano, CA, announced April 16 that the company has initiated a search for a new chief executive officer to replace Jack Breech, who will be retiring from the company. The Pandol family hired Mr. Breech in 2001 "to help transition the company from its entrepreneurial roots to professional management and financial discipline," according to a company press release. However, Mr. Breech had been involved with Pandol family businesses in other capacities already. He began his career as a certified public accountant with Arthur Andersen. He was initially brought into the Pandol

While no official estimates on the 2007 grape crop in Sonora, Mexico, had yet been released, several of the distributors in Nogales, AZ that The Produce News interviewed, as well as a spokesperson for the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, expect the volume of fresh table grapes exported to the United States from Mexico in 2007 to be similar to two years ago. Most marketers expected to have grapes available beginning about the second week of May, although some growers could start harvesting a few days earlier. Perlettes will be the earliest variety, followed by Flames. According to

The New England Produce Council's 2007 Produce & Floral Expo may break its record for number of exhibitors, according to Laura Sullivan, the executive director of the group, which is based in Burlington, MA. She said April 9 that "the show is selling very well." With 220 exhibitors already signed up, the numbers for the April 25 show in Boston may surpass last year's record participation. Exhibitors again this year will be produce and floral companies offering wares to New England retailers. The show, which is entering this seventh year, has been a success in part because it is fun for all

Save-A-Lot, a leading U.S. grocery chain with 1,200 stores nationwide, has announced that Mark Goodman has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Mark is a dynamic, hands-on business executive with a track record of building and leading complex global, consumer-driven retail, food and financial services organizations," Bill Shaner, president and chief executive officer of Save-A-Lot, said in a statement. "Mark will bring new energy and insight to our executive team. He has a passion for retail and a deep respect for the demographic we serve. I believe he will be

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers and McDonald's USA joined together April 9 at the Carter Center in Atlanta to announce an agreement wherein beginning with the 2007 Florida tomato season production, McDonald's will pay CIW one penny per pound for Florida tomatoes that it purchases for its 13,000 U.S. restaurants. The money will be designated to farmworker needs. In the announcement, McDonald's also agreed to work with CIW to develop a new code of conduct for Florida tomato growers and to increase farmworker participation in monitoring supplier compliance. That participation will include