NEW YORK — The New York Produce Show & Conference held its annual trade Wednesday, Dec. 3, at a new venue this year: the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, on the West Side of Manhattan.

One of the highlights during the show: Theresa Nolan, president of The Nolan Network, received the Eastern Produce Council's second annual Woman of Distinction Award. Theresa Lowden of JOH Produce received the first award at last year's show.

Around the globe, the new year is celebrated in vastly different ways and at different times. Despite our diverse traditions though, I believe December is always a good time to reflect on the past year and prepare for what lies ahead (both good fortune and challenges).

This holiday season Ready Pac Foods Inc. has launched a series of innovative solutions for the dinner table, helping to turn a simple meal into special moments and traditions. Ready Pac’s latest innovations — the Cranberry Pomegranate Complete Salad Kit, Autumn Harvest Complete Salad Kit and Thai Complete Salad Kit — will make holiday meals easy and delicious so family and friends can focus on what matters most: enjoying their time together.

Sales veteran Ross Verner has joined Bancroft, WI-based RPE as vice president of sales.

In his new role, Verner will oversee the operations of all RPE offices and ensure continuity between the sales offices in Wisconsin, Idaho and Colorado. He will report to Gary Hansen, senior vice president of sales and operations.

Verner comes to RPE from Topco Associates LLC, where he served as the director of produce program management, prior to serving as the director of member development. He brings over 15 years of sales experience to RPE.

More than 30 years ago, Jaime Garza launched Bebo Distributing Co. Inc. in Pharr, TX, as an importer of fine foods into Mexico.

That business model worked for a while, but his son Jimmy Garza said the devaluation of the Mexican peso in the early 1990s caused the company to change its strategy.

“We became a grower and shipper and started distributing throughout the United States,” he said.

Today Jaime Garza is still president of the family-owned operation, which includes his three sons. “Like many companies we are family-owned,” said Jimmy Garza.

Snake River Produce General Manager Kay Riley predicted in early September that the 2014 crop of Treasure Valley Spanish Sweets would be of excellent quality, and in November he confirmed his assessment had proven to be correct.

“Our quality is very good this year, and most of our business is repeat, so our customers are quite happy,” Riley said.

He went on to say, “We have a good range of sizes this year. Some lots are smaller, and some are bigger. We have adequate supplies of all sizes.”