No matter which day of the week the holiday falls on, or the weather outside, or the political party in office, Valentine’s Day remains a very busy and challenging holiday for the floral industry and 2015 was no different. It’s still too early to have the final results from all the various sectors, but a non-scientific survey of industry members gives some indication that holiday sales seemed relatively flat compared to 2014.

f you’re not one of the lucky ones who gets to go on a long cruise after all of your hard work at Valentine’s Day, and you’re seeing the oncoming freight train that is six spring holidays in eight weeks, hopefully you won’t follow the words of advice from radio humorist Garrison Keillor, “Sometimes you just have to look reality in the face and deny it.”

Dave Austin, national director of marketing at Mission Produce Inc., announced that he would retire March 13 after a long and distinguished career in both the public and private sectors of agriculture.

Royal Rose has teamed up with Catherine Fulvio — one of Ireland’s top culinary stars, an award-winning food writer, Irish food ambassador, TV chef and the proprietor of Ballyknocken House & Cookery School — to develop a modern twist on St. Patrick’s Day dining. The company now has a St. Patrick’s Day salad-themed carton for all the Royal Rose radicchio currently being harvested.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association announced the participants for the 2015 Passion for Produce Program in Montreal.

As an added value to membership, PFP was created by the CPMA in 2010 to provide rising stars in the produce industry with the opportunity to accelerate their professional development through a unique mentoring experience at the Annual Convention and Trade Show. At 19 attendees, this is the largest number of participants to date.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association is now accepting nominations for the 2015 CPMA Fresh Health Award, which is entering into its 17th year. It is presented to the company or organization that best supports and promotes the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables using the Half Your Plate or CPMA’s Freggie Children’s Program to improve population health and industry prospe