SAVANNAH, GA — Daryl Johnston made his first appearance here Jan. 9 at the Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference as the first vice president for sales at Titan Farms.

Johnston had worked in sales at Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, FL; B&W Quality Products; and Dole Food Co. He also served as a consultant on reorganization and business development to Pure Fresh in Doral, FL.

Interfresh Inc., a national supplier of fruits and vegetables, announced that Shonna Williams has joined the company’s sales team at its Orange, CA, headquarters.

“We’re just past the halfway mark on this 2014-15 Florida season, and the grapefruit has sized up nicely and at its peak flavor now,” said Mark Hanks, vice president of sales and marketing, North America, for DNE World Fruit Sales, headquartered in Fort Pierce, FL. “It’s a great way to kick off National Grapefruit Month, which starts Feb. 1. Our Ruby Reds are loaded with juice and are very sweet. We also have a good volume of large white grapefruit, which are at their peak as well and just as sweet as the reds.”

Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, told The Produce News that the company is seeing a steady increase in organic demand over the past two years.

“Consumers are focusing on eating healthier,” said Hymel. “Spice World has produced and handled organic garlic for more than a decade.”

MILLEN, GA — As Southern Exposure 2015 is expecting another record-breaking event, the Southeast Produce Council is also gearing up to welcome newly appointed board of directors President Mark Daniels. After seven years with Military Produce Group, Daniels in early January joined Global Organic Specialty Source Inc. in Sarasota, FL, as director of sales and procurement, bringing more than 30 years of experience in produce to his presidency.

Meijer is preparing to expand into Wisconsin with four stores that will open in the greater Milwaukee area this summer. The retailer has plans to open two to three new Wisconsin stores in each of the next four years.