Southern Specialties Inc., headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, named Dana Giacone manager of the company's West Coast operations. Ms. Giacone has extensive experience in the produce industry. Prior to joining Southern Specialties, she worked with growers, processors and foodservice distributors as regional business manager for River Ranch Fresh Foods in Salinas, CA. Her position with Southern Specialties will be focused on expanding the company's customer base and on developing product lines. Ms. Giacone, a graduate of the Cornell University Produce Executive Development Program, earned a

In South Korea, thousands of people sat down to a breakfast of Florida pink grapefruit this morning. Earlier this year, thousands more in Ireland got a taste of sunshine in the form of Florida strawberries. In fact, due in large part to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services' decade-old Fresh from Florida marketing campaign, millions of consumers regularly enjoy Florida produce in 15 countries around the world all year. The program began inauspiciously in 2000 with a small campaign to judge consumer interest in Florida tomatoes. That test drive put Florida produce on ad in

"Vidalia O' on the Go" is a national summer travel contest planned by marketing students at Vidalia Comprehensive High School in conjunction with the Vidalia Onion Committee. The contest gives contestants who purchase a vehicle tag the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes. Ryan Flowers, marketing instructor at VCHS, approached Wendy Brannen about potential projects for his students. Ms. Brannen is executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee and serves on the VCHS Marketing Advisory Committee. "We do have a national marketing entity here locally with the Vidalia Onion Committee,"

The 10th anniversary show of the New England Produce Council will carry the patriotic theme of Stars & Stripes, according to Laura Sullivan, executive director of the council, which is based in Burlington, MA. The 2010 NEPC Produce & Floral Expo will be held April 14 in Boston's Hynes Convention Center. Set-up for show exhibitors will be April 13, and there is a pre-event cocktail party for exhibitors and invited guests on the evening of April 13. Ms. Sullivan said that the convention committee chose to put an entertainment focus on the keynote speaker this year. Thus comedian Lenny Clarke

CLAYTON, NJ -- Washington, DC, has its cherry blossoms, and Gloucester County in New Jersey has its peach blossoms. As temperatures rise, pretty pink and light red pink blossoms are opening in all their splendor. Gloucester County is the number one peach-producing county in New Jersey and one of the major ones in the United States. Approximately 4,600 acres of peach trees come alive each April with a variety of small to large showy and non-showy pink blossoms. "We've had a good winter -- not too cold but just right -- to over winter a full crop of flower buds on most trees," Jerry Frecon

WILMINGTON, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association has announced that it is increasing its contribution commitment the to Produce for Better Health Foundation with a $250,000 pledge, paid over the next five years. "PBH does what no one else is doing on behalf of the entire produce category: they understand and talk to consumers about fruits and vegetables," Bryan Silbermann, PMA's president and chief executive officer, said in an April 7 press release. "We have been long-time supporters of PBH and are proud to increase our support to this $50,000 level." PMA joins Seneca Foods, Taylor Fresh