Duda Texas, the McAllen, TX-based branch of A. Duda & Sons Inc. in Oveido, FL, announced the promotion of Chris Eddy to sales manager for fresh vegetables. ?Chris is well deserving of this position," said Dan Duda, corporate vice president of fresh fruit and vegetable sales. "He has excellent product knowledge and the personal and technical skills sets to drive our onion business to the next level." Mr. Eddy?s appointment comes as Ken Stewart, who served as Texas sales manager for the previous 23 years, prepares for his retirement later this year. Mr. Stewart will continue to work alongside Mr

Summeripe Worldwide Inc. in Dinuba, CA, has announced the addition of Crown Jewels Marketing in Fresno, CA, to the Summeripe Alliance of quality tree fruit shippers. Crown Jewels Marketing is the eighth member to join the alliance of existing Summeripe members: Family Tree Farms Inc., George Bros. Inc., Giannini Packing Co., Mountain View Fruit Sales Inc., Pandol Bros. Inc., Simonian Fruit Co. and Wespak Sales Co. Pat Steider, president of Summeripe Worldwide Inc., stated, "This combination is another step in the right direction for both companies. Crown Jewels? reputation, quality fruit and

The speakers are set, the exhibitors are ready to showcase their products, the tours are in place and registration is up from last year. In other words, everything is positioned to make this year?s Southeast Produce Council conference and expo a success. ?We?re real pleased," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Feb. 24, referring to all aspects of the council?s second annual Retail & Foodservice Conference, March 10-12 in Tampa, FL. There will be 132 exhibitors in Tampa, he said, up from 109 last year in Lakeland, FL. Those exhibitors represent about 350 people, and

?Like father like son? is an expression that certainly applies to Mike Franzoia, who handles sales and marketing for California Flower Shippers Inc. and was named president of the California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers in December. Mr. Franzoia?s father, LeRoy Franzoia, who is currently president of California Flower Shippers Inc., was president of CAFG&S in 1987-88 and has been an active member since that time. With the long family heritage of service to the floral industry, Mr. Franzoia has the experience and the vision to govern the association over the next two years. Mr

Results from a new Produce Marketing Association consumer survey have found that only slightly more than one-third of consumers are aware of the fruit and vegetable recommendations contained in the recently released 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and that the concept of what constitutes a "serving? of produce varied widely among respondents. Opinion Dynamics Corp. conducted a national telephone survey of 1,000 consumers during the week of Feb. 7 for Newark, DE-based PMA?s Information Resource Center. The results are statistically valid within a 3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent

Bab? Farms in Santa Maria, CA, is re-introducing six of its value-added baby veggies in new two-pound packaging. French beans, yellow wax beans, sno peas, baby squash, baby zucchini and hand-peeled baby carrots now come in packaging that assures 14-day shelf life with optimum refrigeration. In addition to delivering farm-fresh flavor and appearance that can establish brand preference, the new packaging offers the convenience of in-the-bag preparation for microwaving, steaming or boiling. To maximize product appearance, the baby items are consistent in size and the bag breathes to prevent