Ballots are being mailed Feb. 15 to decide whether the California Cut Flower Commission will continue to operate. The referendum is required every five years by legislation establishing the commission in 1990. California growers who sell flowers and grossed at least $500,000 in sales in 2009 are eligible to vote. In an interview earlier this month with The Produce News, Kasey Cronquist, executive director and ambassador of the commission, estimated that about 60 of the state's 250 growers are eligible to vote. Ballots will be counted by the California Department of Food & Agriculture, which

When Stephanie Simek graduated from American University in Washington, DC, in 2002, a career in the produce industry was not on her radar. "I never thought I'd work in produce, absolutely not," she said. Ms. Simek, who received her degree in international marketing, thought she would "end up in some corporation," but after a few years of corporate work, she "ended up in the wonderful land of produce marketing, and it is much better suited to me." In April 2005, she landed a job as a marketing specialist for the National Watermelon Promotion Board because of her experience with web site design

Cindy Seel, executive director of the Produce Marketing Association's Foundation for Industry Talent, is leaving her post March 5 to take a new association job in the Atlanta area. Ms. Seel will serve as executive vice president of the Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia, starting next month, and will trade in her frequent travel schedule for a one-mile commute from her Smyrna, GA, home. At her new job, Ms. Seel said she will lead the association's member value and marketing efforts and resuscitate a "dormant" foundation. "I absolutely loved what I did, but the travel was wreaking havoc

"New for spring 2010 will be the 'Kumato' grape tomato," said Chris Veillon, marketing manager for Mastronardi Produce Ltd., headquartered in Leamington, ON. "It has the same characteristics as the regular 'Kumato' only in grape format, and it's even sweeter. We are also launching our new ready- to-eat facility that will prewash all of our new 'Sunset Kidz MiMi' candy tomatoes. The price point will be less than a chocolate bar, likely 99 cents a pack. Each pack is three ounces. As all items will be prewashed, mom can pick these up off the shelf in the grocery store and then put the pack in her

Ken Green, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Westmoreland Sales in Leamington, ON, joined the company in April 2009. Now on the supply side of the industry, the majority of his career has been spent in retail. He started with A&P when he was 16 and remained employed throughout high school and college. "Then I went through a variety of buying and merchandising with A&P, with the exception of one year when I worked for the Department of Defense," said Mr. Green. "After A&P, I was the vice president of J&D Produce in Texas for three years. In April 2009, I joined Westmoreland

WASHINGTON -- United Fresh Produce Association announced Feb. 12 that Rob Neenan, currently vice president of government affairs at the California League of Food Processors in Sacramento, CA, will join United as vice president of environmental affairs and sustainability. "Rob will be an excellent leader to help develop and grow our foundation's new Center for Global Produce Sustainability, which was established last year through a founding grant from Bayer CropScience," United President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel said in a Feb. 12 press release. "Rob shares our vision of