LA MIRADA, CA  If the produce industry changes its focus and alters the way it does business, it can double consumption of its products, according to Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of the Washington, DC-based United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association. Speaking at the Oct. 5 bimonthly luncheon meeting of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council, here, Mr. Stenzel told the 200 members of the industry in attendance that the produce industry has to "take control of its destiny" by proactively changing public policy. He argued that producing brochures urging people to eat more

Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, recently announced that the company installed a hydrocooler in its Santa Fe Springs, CA, facility. "The facility, which is in the Los Angeles area, has proven to be a very successful addition to our company since it opened earlier this year," said Mr. Eagle. We installed the hydrocooler in mid-August to help us keep pace with the growing demand for our specialty produce lines. It is a state-of-the-art piece of equipment, which will help to ensure that product reaches market in

Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. announced the appointment of Lynn Avery to the newly created position of director of packaging. Mr. Avery, who joined Driscoll July 15, has 30 years of packaging experience, most recently as director of purchasing for Earthbound Farms. His experience also includes management roles with several Fortune 500 packaging companies and the management of supplier alliances for the Coca Cola Co. Driscoll Chief Executive Officer Miles Reiter said that Mr. Avery brings a wealth of packaging expertise to the company and that "his varied experience

The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association and the Southeast Produce Council announced that they will join forces in a series of regional educational programs for their members. The SPC is rolling out its new "Educational Road Show" program developed in partnership with United to reach out to the organizations' members in various cities throughout the Southeast. United will work with SPC to develop quality education programs and bring in expert speakers. The Educational Road Show is designed to give SPC and United members throughout the supply chain the opportunity to stay informed on the

Fresh grapes will be branded under the "Birds Eye Fresh" label as the result of a new marketing agreement reached Sept. 23 between Rochester, NY-based Birds Eye Foods and Pandol Associates Marketing Inc. in Delano, CA. Lyn Hughes, senior marketing manager for Birds Eye Fresh, told The Produce News that the company had been looking to add grapes to its product line for some time, and that she and Jim Pandol of Pandol Associates initiated talks last May during the United Produce Show in Chicago. We are very excited about adding grapes, she said. Jim brings a wealth of knowledge about the

Michael D. Hickson, co-owner of Frontier Produce in Tulsa, OK, died Sept. 11. Mr. Hickson, 49, was the victim of an accidental drowning in a swimming pool at his home in Tulsa, according to his partner and brother-in-law, Robert DeWitt. Mr. Hickson was born and raised in Perry, OK, and was a graduate of the public school system there. He and Mr. DeWitt founded Frontier Produce 12 years ago "with just a van and a truck and built it up to 15 employees" according to his brother-in-law. The company distributes a full line of commodities, with 95 percent of its business to foodservice  including