Close to 500 people helped the Fresh Produce & Floral Council begin the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary, Saturday night, Jan. 24, at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, CA.

Chiquita, which was recently acquired by Cutrale-Safra, has named two new executives: Andrew J. Biles will take on the role of CEO of Chiquita bananas and pineapples; and Darcilo Santos was named chief financial officer. The new announcement comes on the heels of news that the company will be closing its Charlotte, NC, headquarters.

Kingston Cos., the parent company of Kingston Fresh, has hired Cory Wengreen, a seasoned financial executive within the food industry, as the company’s chief financial officer.

California’s San Joaquin Valley, known as the largest food producing region in the world, continues to flourish as top growers and manufacturers come together once again to celebrate the region’s rich agricultural industry at the largest regional food show in the nation, the Fresno Food Expo.

Although shipments to Mexico reverted to the 26-kilometer zone in July 2014, Aspen Produce continues to see steady potato movement to receivers there, according to Sales Agent Michele Peterson and farm Operations Manager Jed Ellithorpe.

“It’s a good, healthy balance for us,” Peterson said of the volume going to Mexico. She said that russets and reds both are well-received by Mexican consumers.

On Jan. 12, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its national forecast for orange production. “The United States all orange forecast for the 2014-15 season is 6.72 million tons, down 3 percent from the previous forecast and down 1 percent from the 2013-14 final utilization,” NASS reported.