Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin has announced plans to retire in 2010 at the end of his current term. When he does, he will have served in the position for 10 four-year terms. He is the longest-serving commissioner of agriculture in the United States and the longest serving statewide official in Georgia. "It's just two years and a couple of days away," Commissioner Irvin told The Produce News Sept. 25. "It will also mark over 54 years of service to the people of Georgia." A Georgia native, Mr. Irvin was elected to his first public office as a member of the Habersham

Baldor Specialty Foods Inc. announced that it is close to finalizing the acquisition of Merex Food Corp., a leading produce importer for the North American market. Merex is a specialty food industry pioneer, having introduced exotic products to the mainstream market over 20 years ago. By educating the consumer with recipes on every package, once-exotic items like sun-dried tomatoes, porcini mushrooms, radicchio, baby potatoes and shallots are now a staple in today's marketplace. Upon completion of the acquisition, the sales of Merex's items, which are marketed under the "Bon Campo" label

Metro Inc., one of Canada's larger retail chains, has promoted two of its senior produce executives and has begun to restructure its operations in Ontario to make it the largest grocery banner in the province. Bernadette Hamel, senior director for produce purchasing, merchandising and central procurement, was promoted to vice president of produce purchasing, merchandising and customer service for Quebec and central negotiations for Ontario and Quebec. Christian Bourbonniere, Metro Richelieu's vice president of perishables, merchandising and buying, was promoted to principal vice president for

(This is an updated story from the one posted Sept. 9 on this site.) Ron Lemaire is going green, and it has nothing to do with produce. Mr. Lemaire, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's executive vice president and director of marketing, announced his resignation Sept. 19. He is leaving to become vice president of market development at the Canadian Green Building Council. His last day at the CPMA will be Oct. 17. Mr. Lemaire told The Produce News Oct. 1 that "it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make because of the nature of the industry and the relationships over 10

With about a dozen restaurants and dining services, plus a catering and convention center, the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN, dishes out about 2.5 million meals a year. Executive Chef Michael Swann brings tremendous organization and creativity to the "table" and oversees every detail. "Five of the eating establishments are full service," Chef Swann explained. "Findley's Irish Pub and Rusty's Sports Bar & Grill are high-grade, quick-serve type restaurants. Stax is our hamburger restaurant. Paisano's Pizzeria & Vino is, as the name implies, a pizza restaurant. We

In mid-September, when Hurricane Ike was several hundred miles off the coast of Texas and barreling down on the Lone Star State, Texas Produce Association President John McClung thought he might have to postpone the association's convention one more time. But the storm veered north and east, sparing the Rio Grande Valley from its wrath and allowing the TPA convention to be held Sept. 19-21 in McAllen, TX. "We had somewhat of a makeshift event, but it was well worth the effort," he said. "We had some excellent presentations on a variety of very important topics." Mr. McClung said that Hurricane