Valley Fruit & Produce, based in Los Angeles, recently announced the hiring of GUSTAVO LASSO DE LA VEGA as corporate credit manager.

“We offer garlic in a variety of forms, whole bulb, peeled, diced, VakPak, frozen, and shelf stable puree form,” said Michael Layous, sales and marketing representative for The Garlic Co., a grower, packer and shipper headquartered in Bakersfield, CA. “And all these forms can be made with organic product. We have offered an organic line for more than 15 years.”

United Supermarkets LLC, d.b.a. The United Family, announced that it has agreed to be acquired by Albertson's LLC, which currently operates more than 600 locations in 16 states. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

United has been family-owned since its founding in 1916 and retains deep community roots in Lubbock, TX, where it is based, as well as the 29 other communities it serves.

Ciruli Bros. LLC in Nogales, AZ, and The Horton Fruit Co. in Louisville, KY, announce the addition of industry veteran Tommy Wilkins as director of sales and business development for Grow Farms Texas LLC, a partnership between both companies.

ANTIGO, WI — Strong, very early potato markets provided cause for Wisconsin potato growers to weigh their marketing options, with a small volume of earlier-than-expected shipping.

But Tamas Houlihan, managing editor and communications director of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, based here, said that September will still, as per normal, be the key month for harvesting and developing marketing and related storage strategies for Wisconsin's potato growers.

Columbia Marketing International, a grower-shipper of premium quality apples, pears and cherries based in Wenatchee, WA, has named Steve Lutz vice president of marketing. He assumed the role vacated by Bob Mast, who was promoted to president of CMI in April.