Oshkosh, WI-based flexible packaging company Curwood Inc. has been named Supplier of the Year 2006 for Primary Packaging by Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., a leading supplier of cranberry- and grapefruit-based drinks, sauces and sweetened dried products. Ocean Spray Chief Executive Officer Randy Papadellis praised Curwood for its "penchant to commit resources to drive Ocean Spray's business to new levels using innovative packaging technologies." Some of the reasons Ocean Spray cited for selecting Curwood were the company's early entry into Ocean Spray's exclusive Strategic Supplier Partnership

NOGALES, AZ -- They are young. Their average age is 25, which may just be the youngest average age for the key people in any brokerage in Nogales. Yet Alvaro Obregon, his brother Enrique Obregon and their friend Tony Mu?oz bring years of experience in various fields to bear in running IPR Solutions LLC, here. "Working as a team with such a group of young professionals is motivating and will allow IPR to activate all of our adrenaline to make sure that we perform in a timely fashion," said Mr. Mu?oz, 22, who told The Produce News that the youthfulness of the company was one of his main reasons

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia's new produce market will be built on what was once the grounds of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, waterfront property along the Delaware River that is being converted into a large industrial park. Significant artifacts of the property's rich naval history remain. Notably, a graceful, arched airplane hanger will remain on the property near the new market as a historical landmark. Less artistic and attractive are naval housing units that still stand - but not for long. Jim Storey, president of the Philadelphia Fresh Food Terminal Corp., told The Produce News Nov. 16

WASHINGTON -- There may be plenty of training programs for promising young leaders in the produce industry, but the United Fresh Produce Association saw a need for mid-level and senior executives to stay ahead of the fast-moving industry. United Fresh said that it had been working on developing a one-of-a-kind training program for a year and decided to partner with Cornell University's Food Industry Management program to help grower and shipper executives move to the next step. Mike Kemp, director of perishables for Save-A-Lot, said that the United Fresh Business Development Council developed

Citing a drop in production volume and depressed pricing, Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc., based in Coral Gables, FL, ended its century-old pineapple operations on the Hawaiian island of Oahu Nov. 17 -- two years earlier than planned. In a statement released Nov. 17, Del Monte said, "The extreme drop in production volume, coupled with depressed pineapple pricing resulting from the increase of supply in the overall pineapple market, has had a negative financial impact on the company." Earlier this year, Del Monte announced that it would continue its pineapple- growing operations on the island

WASHINGTON -- The Food & Drug Administration is now investigating two tomato-related outbreaks, with the latest blamed for nearly 100 illnesses in 19 states. "It's been a busy year," Dave Daigle, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, said when referring to the earlier tomato outbreak and the California spinach investigation. Ninety-eight people in 19 states located mainly in the eastern portion of the United States have been infected with Salmonella newport, said CDC. Cases from this outbreak surfaced in June and ended Oct. 20, leading federal health officials to