Leonard M. Veri, president of Ontario-based Exeter Produce, died March 1 while on vacation in Asia. He was 76 years old.

Crystal Valley Foods, a Miami-based importer and distributor specializing in specialty produce from South and Central America, has opened a new division, Crystal Valley West, in Los Angeles.

Located on the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, Crystal Valley West will focus primarily on sourcing specialty products from Mexico, as well as servicing the parent company’s West Coast customers with products from its points of origin, according to Rick Durkin, director of business development.

Organic grower Wholesum Harvest is giving its Facebook fans a chance to showcase their culinary chops, as well as their photography skills, in a new cooking contest that will run March 1 through Nov. 1.

With President Obama coming into a second term, a new administration taking over in Mexico and immigration reform finally on the federal table, the third annual America Trades Produce Conference, scheduled for March 6-8 in McAllen, TX, could not come at a better time.

WASHINGTON — The next few weeks are critical to sway lawmakers that a comprehensive immigration reform bill must have an agreed upon labor fix for the agriculture industry, said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy at United Fresh Produce Association.

“Obviously, there is a race to get a bill introduced in the House and Senate on immigration reform,” explained Mr. Guenther, March 6, in between meetings on Capitol Hill. “There is a window. We want to make sure ag is part of a broader bill if one is developed in the Senate,” he said.

The Vidalia Onion Committee, which represents South Georgia growers in the region where America’s favorite sweet onions are grown, wants consumers to take their product outside. Literally.