Sun-Rype Products Ltd., a Canadian producer of nutritious fruit snacks, acquired Yakima Juice LLC on Sept. 30. Yakima Juice has been a co-packer of Sun-Rype products for approximately three years. "A plant located in the Pacific Northwest greatly improves our access to an abundant fruit supply and broadens the products and pack types we can bring to our consumers," Sun-Rype officials said in a statement. “The customer base that Yakama currently services is a top priority with Sun- Rype, and we have a transition team working diligently to ensure there is no disruption in service,” the statement

The National Mango Board will host its annual networking and outreach event for the mango industry in association with the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas during the upcoming Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit in Orlando, FL. The event will take place Oct. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Rosen Centre Hotel. The mango industry reception will include a presentation with highlights of the board’s programs, including several key measures of progress since the board started in 2006. During the presentation, the proposed assessment increase will be discussed, and feedback

NEWARK, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association hired its first Central America representative, Felipe Perez, on Oct. 1. His addition to the PMA team reflects a growing membership base in Central America and the association's commitment to connecting the global produce and floral community. In this role, Mr. Perez will assist in the development and implementation of PMA's strategic member activities and resources in the region including membership recruitment and retention, providing information about this market, training and marketing. He will attend PMA's 2010 Fresh Summit International

Diversified Citrus Marketing, the sales and marketing division of the Dundee Citrus Growers Association in Lake Hamilton, FL, has changed its name to Florida Classic Growers Inc., effective Sept. 27. "We made this important decision because of how well our customers relate us to our well-known heritage label, 'Florida Classic,'“ Al Finch, vice president of sales and marketing, told The Produce News. In a Sept. 27 press release, Lindsay Raley, president and chairman of the board of Dundee, said, “With the evolution of Florida Classic, we look forward to extending our record of providing

WASHINGTON — Through the United Fresh Foundation's A Salad Bar in Every School campaign, two additional schools in the District of Columbia — Friendship Public Charter School and the Imagine Southeast Public Charter School — have recently received new salad bars. Officials from both charter schools received their salad bars at a ceremony at the Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill during the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Public Policy Conference last month. "Both the Friendship Public Charter School and the Imagine Southeast Charter School have wanted salad bars for a long time and

The Southeast Produce Council announced its new slate of officers, one of many highlights of its 2010 fall conference in Savannah, GA. click here