Conditions could not be better for this year's pipfruit crop from New Zealand. Peter Beaven, chief executive of Pipfruit New Zealand, is enthusiastic about this year's prospects. "The quality of the fruit is the best this decade: clean finish, good pressures and high Brix. The fruit is eating very well and compares very favorably with other Southern Hemisphere quality," he told The Produce News in early May. "This was an excellent growing season in all parts of New Zealand. [There were] no adverse weather events." New Zealand exports apples and pears annually to 60 countries around the globe

GREENWICH, NJ -- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher sampled New Jersey asparagus from Sheppard Farms in Cedarville, eggs from Fralinger's Egg Farm in Hopewell and baked goods from the residents of Greenwich Township during the 19th annual Greenwich Fire Department Egg & Asparagus Breakfast, held May 17. "Jersey Fresh asparagus is at the height of its season, packed with flavor and full of nutritional value," Secretary Fisher said in a May 17 press release. "Asparagus can be eaten in quiches, salads and omelets or steamed, roasted or saut?ed. The annual tradition in Greenwich

Rose Prost-Hiebert was declared National Prize Winner of the Pear Bureau Northwest's second annual "Pear Excellence" Canadian Culinary Student Recipe Competition. Ms. Prost-Hiebert, associated with the Elliott House Restaurant & Chef School, was recognized for her achievement during festivities at The Chefs House restaurant at George Brown College in Toronto. Her winning recipe, pear ginger cheesecake, garnered a $2,500 cash prize. The pear bureau is dedicated to educating the culinary community on the versatility and value of fresh pears in meals throughout every season of the year, said

NationFresh LLC, based in Littleton, CO, has announced the hiring of two longtime industry veterans, Wesley Rust and Larry Narwold, to the sales and marketing staff of the company. Mr. Rust, who spent the last five years as national marketing manager for Produce Alliance, headquartered in Nashville, TN, joined the company May 4 and will work from his home in Fort Worth, TX. Prior to working for Produce Alliance, Mr. Rust was director of national accounts for Fresh Network in Salinas, CA, and also was vice president of national account sales for National Produce Consultants Inc. in Plano, TX

This year, the All Things Organic conference and trade show will join forces with three new show partners to create a powerhouse event focusing on evolving markets in organics, multi-culturalism, health and wellness, and specialty food. The event will be held June 16-18 at the Lakeside Center of Chicago's McCormick Place. "This is going to be an exciting show," said Barbara Haumann, senior writer and editor for the Organic Trade Association. This show will help retailers understand what the organic standards mean and what consumers want. These are hot topics. In addition to All Things

While Walmart Stores Inc., the nation's largest retailer, would neither confirm nor deny that it has shifted some of its key produce personnel to other departments, produce industry sources have said that the chain has reassigned produce executives and replaced them with employees from other departments. Ron McCormick, who was the chains top produce department executive as vice president of produce, has apparently moved to a non-produce position in Walmarts Local Purchases/Sustainability department. In addition, Pam Kohn, who was Mr. McCormicks boss as general merchandising manager of