Following the success of its inaugural national sales show in 2014, SuperValu Inc. will host the 2015 National Expo this August in St. Paul, MN. year’s show will have an expanded emphasis on fresh departments and products.

This year’s event will take place Aug. 11-13 at the RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul and is open to the more than 2,000 independent retail customers served by SuperValu, as well as hundreds of vendors and industry professionals.

The National Watermelon Association’s annual convention will be held Feb. 16-19 in La Quinta, CA, with an underlying theme of planning for the future for the industry and the association.

“Our keynote speaker is Sarah Sladek, and she is probably the foremost global expert on Generations X, Y and Z,” Bob Morrissey, executive director of the NWA, told The Produce News. “We are very excited to have her speak and to remain on for a couple of months as a consultant for the association.”

The Quebec Produce Marketing Association was honored with a DUX Award for its “Eating better, one serving at a time” communications campaign at a Jan. 21 ceremony in Montreal.

Bill Zentner has been promoted to director of ratings at Blue Book Services, succeeding Ken Schultz as the leader of Blue Book’s ratings division. He will report to Jim Carr, chief executive officer and president.

Retailers wanting insights about additional ways to boost apple and pear sales during the winter months can discuss strategies with Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers at Booth No. 911. The company is headquartered in Wenatchee, WA and is one of the premier tree fruit growers in the Pacific Northwest.

“Organic diets are a big consumer trend right now,” said Jasmine Hines, director of marketing and advertising for RBest Produce Inc., headquartered in Port Washington, NY. “Everyone is looking into healthier habits, and with that we’ve noticed an increase in the demand of organic produce.”

RBest imports produce from all over the world, with a strong focus on well-known top-quality brands.