A fixture on the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market since 1982, Coosemans Los Angeles Inc. and Coosemans L.A. Shipping Inc. have updated the look of their branding and website to reflect their modern and youthful organization while maintaining a comprehensive library of information on specialty produce.

NEW YORK — The Eastern Produce Council presented Theresa Lowden with its first Woman of Distinction Award Dec. 11 during the 2013 New York Produce Show.

Lowden is executive vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Division of JOH Produce; she also serves on the EPC board of directors. When the council formed a Women's Leadership Committee almost six months ago, it named Lowden to chair it.

Robert Lee Carey was born in Bridgeville, DE, on Aug. 25, 1931, and died about eight miles down the road in Seaford, DE, on Nov. 29, 2013. In those 82 years in between, he traveled the world and left an indelible mark across the globe.

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Dec. 12 a new coordinated effort to contain and combat citrus greening, while calling on Congress to reauthorize the farm bill that pumps funds into urgently needed research programs.

Market Fresh Produce, based in Nixa, MO, added STEPHANIE SANCHEZ to its business development team at its tomato repacking facility in Florida.

Sanchez has a strong sales background with proven results. Most recently, she was a territory sales representative at G&K Services.

Ogranic blueberries led the way for Gourmet Trading Co.’s Chile deal, with shipments beginning in early November.

“Gourmet Trading Company handles conventional and organic blueberries out of Chile,” said Luciano Fiszman, procurement manager for the Los Angeles-based firm, a leading supplier of year round high-quality fruits and vegetables. “We will also have some Chilean asparagus this season.”