YOUNG HARRIS, GA — The Southeast Produce Council’s 15th annual fall conference will be remembered for a simple and very moving tribute to its co-founder and longtime executive director. But it will also be remembered for the election of new officers as well as the introduction or rebranding of some new and exciting programs.

FOREST PARK, GA — Broker Merrin-Cravens Co. is continuing to do what it does best — supply the wholesale and food service industry with top-quality produce from around the world.

The company has a lot of return business because of its longstanding reputation that has been ongoing since it was founded in 1923.

“We try to be fair and honest,” said David Rose, president of Merrin-Cravens Co. “We are brokers, and we buy and sell product.”

Merrin-Cravens buys its produce from many areas, including Florida, Central America, Chile and Honduras to name a few.

With the Red River Valley’s potato crop looking good, “the biggest ‘What if? Factor’ is transportation,” said David Moquist, the secretary-treasurer of O.C. Schulz & Sons, Inc., located in Crystal, ND. Over the last three years, truck transportation “has been an issue, with it getting worse every year. This year, will it be worse or better? The indications are that it will still be a challenge.”

Jacobs, Malcolm & Burtt is bringing sweet corn back and it's stealing the spotlight in their newly redesigned booth at this year's PMA Fresh Summit, Oct. 18-19 in Anaheim, CA.

Available in four and eight packs, JMB's sweet corn has been added to their product list for 2014. Like JMB's other fresh produce, sweet corn is available year-round due to long-term partnerships with growers in California and Mexico.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council, which will be celebrating its 50th year in 2015, has revealed a new 50th anniversary logo that it will use throughout 2015, beginning with the annual dinner dance.

State Garden Inc., a leading supplier of organic and conventional tender leaf greens, spinach and celery hearts based in Chelsea, MA, recently launched a new line of conventional cooking greens under its "Simple Beginnings" label. The packaged cooking greens are offered in nine-ounce bags in three different varieties: Baby Kale, Baby Spinach and Sauté Blend.