Domex Superfresh Growers, a global leader in the growing and shipping of fresh apples, pears, cherries and apricots, has launched a new social media and in-store promotion called "Share Your Perfect Pear" sweepstakes.

Ken Cavallaro, treasurer of John Cerasuolo Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, told The Produce News that the company was pretty much in full swing in October with at least some product coming from just about everywhere.

“Things will quiet down with production in the Northeast pretty soon, and will start to peter out,” he said. “We’ll then start working with Southeast, Mexico and California suppliers.

Rio Rico, AZ-based Chucho Produce recently added Omar Sanchez to its sales team.

Sanchez has been in the produce industry for seven years. Prior to joining Chucho Produce, he worked for Sandia Distributors.

Sanchez resides in Nogales, AZ. Outside of work, he enjoys playing racquetball and basketball, as well as road biking.

To announce personnel changes at your company, please contact Assistant Editor Maggie Giuffrida at 201/986-7990, ext. 110 or [email protected]. Photos are encouraged.

With an eye toward adding new technology and staying ahead of the curve, Edinburg Citrus Association in Edinburg, TX, revamped its packing facility during the off season.

After more than two years without access to China for Washington Red and Golden Delicious apples, USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service officially announced reinstatement of market access for apples from Washington state to China, effective immediately.

Shipments of Washington apples to China stopped in August of 2012, when the Chinese government refused to issue import permits to Chinese importers, citing concerns with a recently discovered fungus they claimed was not in China.

The Environmental Working Group, best known for lambasting fresh produce with its annual "Dirty Dozen" list, has released a new food database and smart phone app that recommends eating the same produce it has been railing against for years.

The "Food Scores" app rates about 80,000 foods on a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being the best and 10 the worst. Only 18 percent of the foods, including most fresh fruits and vegetables, received the highest rating (1-3.5), while 57 percent scored in the middle range (4-7) and 25 percent were ranked in the worst category of 8-10.