Suntreat, a provider of premium California citrus in Lindsay, CA, announced Aug. 27 that it has hired Al Imbimbo as its vice president of sales. Mr. Imbimbo assumed his new role with the company on Aug. 17.

With Tom Roberts, director of sales and marketing, retiring after 38 years, Mr. Imbimbo will be responsible for directing all sales activities for the company. Suntreat said that it is planning an aggressive growth strategy that emphasizes introduction of new varieties and enhanced specialty citrus product offerings.

On Wednesday evening, Sept. 2, Hurricane Jimena was rolling across the central plains of the Baja California peninsula likely inflicting some damage on the tomato, cucumber and other crops that are currently in the ground awaiting harvest in the fall.

"It would be a miracle if we come out of this without damage," John King, vice president of sales for Andrew & Williamson Sales Co. Inc. in San Diego, said the afternoon of Sept. 2. "We will know a lot more in 24 hours. The storm should start to come through in the early morning hours tomorrow."

Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc. in Sparta, MI, selected RCT Inc. to receive a special award for outstanding service.

On July 20, Manuel (Manny) Maldonado, an employee of Baldor Specialty Foods in the Bronx, NY, was involved in a serious car accident in which he suffered a severe spinal cord injury, one that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Mr. Maldonado is 31 years old and the father of a young boy, Manny Jr.

In a proactive measure to ensure the integrity of onions grown in Idaho- Eastern Oregon's Treasure Valley, concerned shippers recently joined forces to form the non-profit Certified Onions Inc.

According to corporate President Kay Riley, general manager of Snake River Produce in Nyssa, OR, the impetus behind the new company, which incorporated June 24, was twofold.

Noting that the membership of Certified Onions Inc. is comprised of numerous Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee member sheds, Mr. Riley stated that the two entities are completely separate.

When the membership of the Idaho Grower Shipper Association gathers for its 81st annual convention Sept. 2-4 in Sun Valley, ID, it will mark the first year under the leadership of Travis Blacker, who took the helm following the retirement of the organization's former longtime president, Dave Smith.

Mr. Blacker told The Produce News that overall it has been a successful and exciting first year.