MONTE VISTA, CO — San Luis Valley potato acreage is up slightly this year, from 55,000 in 2011 to 55,100 in 2012, and Colorado Potato Administrative Committee Executive Director Jim Ehrlich said indications are that the crop is of good quality and volume.

Shipments of the 2011 crop had continued into July 2012, with Aug. 9 Spud Facts figures showing year-to-date loads at 34,533 compared to 34,249 as of July 2010.

VINELAND, NJ — The afternoon of Monday, Aug. 20, was sunny and warm in southern New Jersey, a typical summer day: highs in the 80s, a slight chance of rain. It was on this day, late in the afternoon, that The Produce News spoke to Tom Consalo of The Fresh Wave.

“This time of the year is sort of like the calm before the storm — between the summer crops and [the start of] the fall crops,” he said.

Miami-based Del Monte Fresh Produce hired VERONIQUE VATINELLE Aug. 13 as marketing manager North America-communications.

In her new position at Del Monte Fresh, Ms. Vatinelle is responsible for communications, trade shows and digital media. She has previously worked in various marketing management and product and business development positions for NCL, FedEx, Sanofi and Modern Veterinary, and she received her MBA from Regis University. This is her first job in the produce industry.

MONTE VISTA, CO — The recent partnership between longtime San Luis Valley potato grower-shipper Worley & McCullough and Idaho’s Wada Farms Marketing Group is described as a win-win move by both parties.

W&M Sales Manager Trampas McCormick said in mid-August that the “opportunity with Wada and the support from them is going to be great.” The partnership was announced by Wada Farms in early August.

Alpine Fresh, a major grower-packer-shipper of blueberries, hired Stacy Spivey as director of its domestic berry program.

The company, which is headquartered in Doral, FL, is one of the longer-running U.S. berry importers and is offering year-round availability, as well as value-added items for its existing customers.

When the Southeast Produce Council convenes for its fall conference in Asheville, NC, Sept. 20, current President John Shuman of Shuman Produce in Reidsville, GA will be handing the reins to current Vice President Andrew Scott of General Produce in Atlanta. The changing of the guard will mark the first time in the history of the council that the president has previously held every spot in the organization’s hierarchy.