WASHINGTON -- Nothing sells organic produce like a picture of the first lady Michelle Obama and a team of fifth graders planting a vegetable garden for the White House kitchen. Just days after Alice Waters, owner of Berkley, CA-based Chez Panisse and a well-known food activist, called for a White House organic garden on the weekly news show "60 Minutes," the first lady gathered 26 school children to begin digging a 1,100-square-foot organic garden on the South Lawn. "My girls like vegetables more if they taste good," Ms. Obama was quoted as saying at the press event. "Especially if they're

David Kannenstine, vice president of New York metro sales and marketing for Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva, NY, died surrounded by his family March 18 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 47. Mr. Kannenstine headed the New York City office of the family-owned-and- operated orchard and juice company, where he worked for 12 years. According to a memorial posting on the Red Jacket web site, "Dave's contributions to not only our family business but to the local food movement in metro New York were immense. His ability to build personal connections with those he worked with and passion

Produce industry veteran Paul Mocettini has been named vice president of sales and marketing at Salinas, CA-based Ippolito International LLP. In this new position, he will spearhead customer and new product development. Mr. Mocettini, who has been in various produce industry sales, commodity management and executive sales management capacities since 1987, said that the potential growth and Ippolito's commitment to premium-quality products and customer service were instrumental in his decision to join the company. "Ippolito is regarded as one of the up-and-coming premium grower- shippers in the

Citing unprecedented financial challenges resulting from the effects of the economic downturn across the nation and in Ohio, A. LoPresti & Sons Inc., a family-owned, wholesale foodservice distributor that has been serving northeastern Ohio for more than 100 years, announced that it is ceasing operations and will liquidate the business. The company, which has annual revenues of approximately $40 million, had more than 1,200 customers - primarily restaurants, hotels, caterers, schools, hospitals, and business and industry accounts throughout the region. "We have done everything we possibly could

Seald Sweet International, a Vero Beach, FL-based unit of the Belgian company Univeg, is moving forward with a plan to diversify its offerings by adding non-citrus items to its product line. "Seald Sweet International is a 100-plus-year-old citrus company that has now decided to develop its business interests outside of the citrus category," Mark Lewis, executive vice president of Seald Sweet, told The Produce News March 24. "The new product lines were the company's basis for hiring me last fall. I have spent most of my career in the non-citrus side of the produce industry. My responsibility

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA -- Guatemala's position as "America's Garden" was highlighted March 19-20 at the Agritrade Expo & Conference 2009. The 14th edition of the show was held for the first time in Antigua at the five-star Casa Santo Domingo Hotel & Convention Center. Previously, the show was held in Guatemala City, which is about 30 minutes from Antigua. The upbeat mood of the show was captured in remarks at the opening breakfast by Carlos Amador, president of Agexport, who said: "We are in Antigua. The setting and climate are perfect. It looks like a wedding. All we are missing is a bride."