The Washington tree fruit industry is mourning the loss of 48-year-old Michael Monson, president of Monson Fruit Co. in Selah, WA. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mr. Monson was aboard a helicopter in a remote area of British Columbia on a company fishing trip when the helicopter suddenly crashed near Bute Inlet into the Homatico River. The accident occurred April 13 at around 4:30 p.m., shortly after take-off.

Gourmet Trading Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, anticipates a good asparagus season in 2013.

“We have the same acreage as last year,” Asparagus Procurement Manager James House told The Produce News. “We plan on having a little more volume this season compared to last year.”

The company packs asparagus at its facility in Pasco, WA. “We began harvesting April 2. We plan on harvesting until the beginning of June,” Mr. House stated.

Citing the inability to secure water in northern Colorado, grower-shipper Harry Strohauer of Strohauer Farms in LaSalle, CO, recently relocated a portion of his potato production to northeast New Mexico.

Mr. Strohauer, who grows conventional, organic and specialty potatoes and onions, told The Produce News that half his potato operation is in New Mexico this season. Conventional russets and Yukon Golds for the dry bulk/repacker market segment were planted in March, and Yukon harvest is expected to start in mid-July, with russets to follow.

The Produce Marketing Association announced that Jim Gorny has been named to the new position of vice president of food safety and technology, starting on May 1.

In his role, Dr. Gorny will strengthen PMA's initiatives to build member value in the areas of science and technology, including food-safety research, biotechnology, agricultural innovations, process and packaging technology and environmental sustainability.

In addition, Dr. Gorny will continue his long-standing role with the Center for Produce Safety at the University of California-Davis.

BC Hot House Foods announced that a new 11-acre greenhouse facility has been added to its portfolio.

Armand Vandermeulen of Green Valley Family Farms has built Bakerview Greenhouses in Abbotsford, BC. This state-of-the-art greenhouse will grow red peppers for the 2013 season, with room for further expansion in 2014.

Tom Wason, a produce industry veteran with three decades of experience in the retail and foodservice sectors, has joined 20/20 Produce Sales Inc., based in Heyburn, ID, as a member of the company’s board of directors and a managing partner.