A shakeup has occurred at Spreckels, CA-based Tanimura & Antle Inc. According to published reports, President Ken Silveira, Vice President Of Sales & Marketing Rick Bravo and Vice President Of Crop Management Rick Russo all are no longer with the company. In addition, it has been reported that Bob Antle, a part owner of T&A, has stepped in as sales manager. The report also said that John Killeen, vice president of marketing and business development, and Steve Koran, director of western sales, still are with the company. Chief Executive Officer Rick Antle spoke with The Produce News Monday

Index Fresh, based in Bloomington, CA, announced the appointment of John Dmytriw to the position of sales director. "We welcome John to the team at Index Fresh. I am excited about the enthusiasm he brings to his role in our sales department," Dana Thomas, president of Index Fresh, said in a press release. Mr. Dmytriw spent the last seven-and-a-half years at West Pak Avocado in Temecula. Prior to that, he worked for Buyproduce.com in Irvine, CA. "My job is very rewarding because I supply people with something that they want or need," Mr. Dmytriw said in the press release. "Customers are not all

CHEP, a leader in pallet and container pooling, presented a $10,000 check to the National Watermelon Association during the awards banquet at the group's annual convention in Orange Beach, AL. The money will help fund research, lobbying and consumer promotion activities as well as ongoing operations at the NWA. The donation is the result of a partnership between the two organizations that provides financial support for the association as more members use CHEP pallets to transport watermelons to retail. "We are pleased with the initial progress our members have made with the CHEP partnership

Country Fresh Inc., a Houston-based manufacturer and distributor of fresh- cut produce and ready-to-eat meal solutions, announced the launch of the "Country Fresh Organic" line of whole and fresh-cut produce. More than 70 organic items are now processed through the company's six U.S. Department of Agriculture organic-certified facility locations. Leveraging its group of suppliers and regional presence with a dedicated distribution network, the company's "Country Fresh Organic" line is available for daily shipments to national retail locations. Each whole produce item from the "Country Fresh

Programs geared to food editors by the Chilean Avocado Importers Association resulted in more than 26 pages of coverage in the nation's top food, women's and consumer magazines during the 2007-08 Chilean season. Maggie Bezart, marketing director of the association, met with magazine food editors in New York, Des Moines, IA, and Birmingham, AL, in March of 2007 to present information about the Chilean season, about Chilean quality and the versatility of Chilean Hass avocados. The meetings included a presentation from Chilean chef and author of The Chilean Kitchen, Ruth Van Waerebeeke. In New

Pro*Act, a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry, announced that Produce Distribution Center LLC in Jacksonville, FL, has joined the Monterery, CA-based company's distribution network. Produce Distribution Center LLC was founded by Larry Movsovitz, who runs the company along with his sons, Seth and Max, both members of the fourth generation of the family's involvement in produce that began in the late 1890s with Max Movsovitz. Operating out of a 45,000-square-foot warehouse with 25,000 square feet of refrigerated dock space, Produce Distribution Center provides fresh