Paul Kawamura, son of Orange County Produce LLC’s managing partner, Matt Kawamura, is now on the sales desk at Orange County Produce. He is the fourth-generation Kawamura in the family business.

“He has actually been working for the company for three or four years,” said Matt Kawamura in an interview with The Produce News March 5. “He was learning about the accounting side and a bunch of other things initially. Now we brought him over into the strawberry sales.”

Ready Pac Foods Inc. promoted Tristan Simpson to vice president of corporate communications. In this newly created position, Simpson joins the Ready Pac executive leadership team and will lead the company’s communications efforts.

Apple industry leaders from across the country will soon converge in Washington, DC, and when they do they’ll be greeted by materials bearing a whole new look.The U.S. Apple Association will officially launch its new brand identity next week during its bi-annual board meeting in Washington, DC.

Paul Kneeland of Kings Food Markets inspected produce with RLB's Joey Granata and Howard Fisher, and Kings' Paul Hamilton, Jonathan Horowitz and John Spellman.The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce M

Art Salazar recently joined Commerce, CA-based Unified Grocers.

In his new position as manager of the produce department for the Southern California region, Salazar is responsible for managing the purchasing and sales team, as well as overlooking merchandising and store deliveries to maximize quality and reduce the cost of doing business.

Splendid Products LLC, headquartered in Burlingame, CA, has had an excellent Peruvian mango deal so far this year and expects Mexico to also yield increased supplies this season.

“Our volume is up significantly this year from Peru and we expect the same from Mexico,” said Larry Nienkerk, owner and manager of the operation, on Feb. 21. “After this week our volume will begin to diminish in Peru and pick up in Mexico.”