A new, state-of-the-art, 100,000-square-foot warehouse is great for operations. But Cleveland Growers Marketing Co. in Cleveland has used such a facility to launch a wide array of customer services to expand its business. Ed Tousel, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cleveland Growers, said that his company hired Ken Carnevale as director of business development to institute the firm?s expanded services. Mr. Carnevale, who joined the company in December, is a 35-year veteran of the produce industry who most recently served as vice president of produce and floral for Tops

BURLINGTON, MA "- The New England Produce Council will hold its fifth annual Produce & Floral Expo on April 6 at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston. The NEPC expo is the region?s premier event for executives and buyers in the produce industry to network and see the latest in produce and floral products. Attendance at this year?s expo is expected to be close to 1,000, with 250 booths. Shep Hyken, a speaker and author entertaining audiences with his unique presentation style for over 25 years, will share strategies on building loyal relationships with customers and

Diet trends aside, love has not been lost for potatoes. That fact stood out among key conclusions reached during recipe contests and focus groups recently sponsored by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, prompting CPAC Executive Director Chris Voigt to suggest, "Perhaps instead of "Potato Lovers Month? we should call February "Potato Passion Month." " Mr. Voigt said that in consumer focus groups sponsored in summer 2004 by CPAC, comments were "vociferous against trendy regimens that did not consider the role potatoes play in a healthy diet." One participant said that if she did not

The California Tomato Commission currently governs all field-grown tomato production in California, whether mature green or vine-ripe, but does not have oversight over hydroponic greenhouse-grown tomatoes. That appears about to change. ?The commission is going to referendum in the nest few months? to determine whether its scope will be expanded to include the greenhouse tomato industry in California, said Ed Beckman, president of the Fresno-based commission. The referendum is expected to pass, as it was the greenhouse industry that approached the commission with the concept. At the 19th annual

While 2004 was considered a "salvageable? year for California asparagus growers, it appears that 2005 needs to match or better that result to keep some growers from throwing in the towel on the crop. But favorable weather conditions " including sufficient rain and ample chill hours " and an aggressive promotion program have growers cautiously optimistic about the 2005 season. With the end of the Peruvian deal and with normal shipments arriving from Mexico, the California market is expected to firm up. Heightened demand from an early Easter holiday should also strengthen the early market

WASHINGTON " Grower-based organizations are hoping that President Bush?s call for action on immigration reform during the State of the Union address will help Congress pass long-awaited reforms for the agriculture guest worker program. ?Those of us in agriculture who have been pleading for immigration reform are heartened by the president?s courageous call to action and we are optimistic that a solution can be found to solve the immigration crisis," said Tom Nassif, president of Western Growers Association in Irvine, CA. The president?s State of the Union remarks elevated the discussion about