In early August, Wade Whitfield, who had a distinguished career in the agricultural promotion industry, died peacefully after several years of failing health.

Mr. Whitfield was born Sept. 8, 1931, in Newellton, LA, but grew up in Hughson, CA, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. He graduated from Hughson High School, and joined the Navy in 1951, serving for four years during the Korean War. He was discharged in 1955 and came back to the San Joaquin Valley where he became a grower or cling peaches, which mostly are processed for canning.

The California Avocado Commission is putting plans in place for the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit that will be held in CAC’s “backyard” at the Anaheim Convention Center Oct. 17-19. With the venue so close to California avocado groves, CAC expects many local growers to attend the show and will have a grower in its booth to answer attendee questions about the growing practices of the fruit.

"When you have a band of stubborn, bull-headed, determined entrepreneurs, they make things happen," said Fred Sorbello, who recently stepped down from his role as president of Ship Philly First.

Such a position is quickly driving a direct refrigerated ocean freight service between Veracruz, Mexico, and the Philadelphia port community.

HAMMONTON, NJ — For the 2014 New Jersey fall produce deal, Frank Donio Inc. will be offering its usual extensive lineup of items as in years past, but the big news is that the company is looking to handle twice the volume of fresh cranberries than it did last year.

The company, a longtime distributor of a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables from both domestic and offshore sources, has handled a small volume of fresh cranberries in the past, but last year it handled what company President David Arena termed “major volume” of the popular red berries.

LaGrange, GA-based Durand-Wayland Inc. announced Mark Adamczyk as vice president of business development.

In his new role, Adamczyk will primarily be responsible for supporting the Durand sales team and the company's desire to grow the business through the introduction of technology offerings, assistance on packinghouse and dealer initiatives and the identification of new market opportunities for Durand's broad line of proven packinghouse equipment.

Focused upon strengthening and sustaining its thriving industry, the Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture, commonly known by the Spanish acronym AMHPAC, held its seventh annual convention.

More than 330 participants attended the Aug. 28-29 meeting, which was held in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, on the Gulf of California about 15 miles northeast of the famous resort town of Cabo San Lucas.

A Sept. 3 press release indicated that convention participants came from five countries, while domestic attendees came from 20 Mexican states.