David Webster, chief executive officer of AgraCo Technologies International LLC, sold his interest in AgraCo late last month to Ken Potter, who was an AgraCo founding partner when Mr. Webster started AgraCo in 2001. AgraCo has been based in Mr. Webster's office in the Philadelphia suburb of Lafayette Hill, PA. [Mr. Potter] "is a good man, and I am very happy that the company is in good hands," Mr. Webster told The Produce News Sept. 21. Mr. Webster said that Mr. Potter had owned the Martin's Potato Chip Co. outside York, PA. "He built the company up to about $20 million in sales and sold it to

Three Leafy Greens Council leaders will report on the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture hearings regarding the proposed National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement at the council's annual Leadership Conference at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in Room 303A at the Anaheim (CA) Convention Center. Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the California Leafy Green Products Marketing Agreement, and Joe Pezzini, vice president and chief operating officer of Ocean Mist Farms, testified at the initial hearings held Sept. 22-24 in Monterey, CA. Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit &

WASHINGTON -- Tom Stenzel, United Fresh Produce Association's president and chief executive officer, released Sept. 29 the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children, which will begin national distribution of fruit and vegetable vouchers Oct. 1. "With this landmark policy change, it is a win-win for WIC moms and kids across the United States and for the entire produce industry," Mr. Stenzel said in the statement. "WIC participants will now have access to a wide variety of nutritious fresh fruits and

LIMA, PERU -- Peru's land and weather make it an ideal location for fresh fruit and vegetable production, according to Fernando Albareda, the commercial counselor for the consulate general of Peru in Miami. "Our fruit is sweeter because we have more sun," he said, adding that moderate temperatures are also a huge plus. On Peru's central coast, Fahrenheit temperatures typically stay between 50 and 77, he added. "It only gets to freezing in the Andes." In the world, 104 microclimates have been identified, and Peru possesses 84 of those microclimates. Mr. Albareda and Bernardo Mu?oz, business

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to expand the fresh-cut apple pilot program to more states and test baby carrots after working out the kinks of its successful pilot project. From March 27 to June 30, USDA worked with vendors who helped deliver fresh-cut apple slices to kids in school districts in California, Michigan, North Carolina, New York and Pennsylvania. USDA purchased more than 3 million pounds of fresh-cut apple slices in two-ounce bags in an attempt to boost fresh fruit consumption with more convenient packages. "From the feedback we've received, the fresh-cut

Industry leaders, key politicians and American heroes are among those scheduled to address the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's 66th annual convention Sept. 27-29 in Palm Beach, FL. On Sept. 28, a session focusing on industry efforts to ensure rapid, accurate traceability throughout the supply chain was to feature Gary Fleming, vice president of industry technology and standards for the Newark, DE-based Produce Marketing Association; William Pool, manager of agricultural production and research for Wegman's Food Markets Inc.; and Alan Newton, vice president of information services for A