The United Fresh Produce Association gathered its exhibiting community for the first time since announcing its return to live events this June 24-26 in Los Angeles to kick off a four-event education webinar series that will guide exhibitors through the benefits of this year’s online and in-person experience.

Nominations are now being accepted for United Fresh’s 2021 Women in Produce honoree. Celebrated each year in conjunction with the United Fresh Convention & Expo, the program recognizes the contributions of all women working in the produce industry and selects one individual to share her personal experience. This year marks the 24th anniversary of this special event.

United Fresh has opened the nomination period for the 2021 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program. Developed to honor the foodservice industry’s most innovative produce performers, the program pays special tribute to chefs and foodservice operators for excellence in the use of fresh produce in the culinary arts, especially during this year where many restaurant businesses and operations have been forever changed. The program is sponsored by FreshEdge.

United Fresh is accepting nominations for the 2021 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. This program recognizes 25 outstanding retail produce managers for their innovative merchandising, produce-related community outreach, increased store sales and recognition among company peers.

The U.S. presidential election is growing tighter, according to national pundit Frank Luntz.

Luntz, participating in the United Fresh Produce Washington Congress virtual meeting on Sept. 23, spoke by Zoom to 200 produce industry participants. This general session was kicked off Ray Starling, former chief of staff to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, and Tom Vilsack, former Secretary of Agriculture under President Obama. Starling and Vilsack presented their respective cases for why Donald Trump and Joe Biden is the best choice for the produce industry.

Jimmy Panetta and Rodney Davis warned that they will not be seen together on national news networks.

Why not? After all, they respect each other, they are friends, and they cooperate to get things done for American agriculture.

Panetta is the U.S. Representative for the nation’s “Salad Bowl,” California District 20. He’s a Democrat. Davis, on the other hand, is a Republican from Illinois District 13.