Weather, and its effects, have permeated most of the 2014 agricultural industry news — crops freezing in Florida and California, a drought in the West, the polar vortex pushing up heating costs for nurseries, ice storms and blizzards snarling distribution of perishable products. It has been a challenging year so far, to say the least.

The Jan. 24 opening of RLB Food Distributors’ newly acquired 40,000-square-foot refrigerated facility in Fairfield, NJ, has greatly increased the company’s warehousing capabilities.

This added space provides eight additional loading bays to the company’s 85,000-square-foot 13-bay warehouse located three miles away at the company’s headquarters in West Caldwell. Produce shippers benefit as well, as the increase in slotting capacity will allow for a stronger product foothold in RLB’s market area, which spans from northern Virginia to Boston.

RIO RICO, AZ — Veteran truck broker Leo Perez joined the staff of Unlimited Logistics, here, in mid-January. Unlimited Logistics is a truck brokerage owned by Keith Connell Inc., which has offices in Rio Rico, as well as its Kansas City headquarters.

Working with Perez on the trucking side in the Rio Rico office is Danny Sanchez, who is also involved in produce sales. Also on the Rio Rico produce sales desk is German (Junior) Gallego Jr.

RIO RICO, AZ — With Daily Fresh Distributing Inc., located here, heading into its third spring Nogales deal, company founder Paul Bachelier is enjoying a strong business.

Daily Fresh markets grapes for its partner, Agrofesa, a grower in Hermosillo, Sonora.

Daily Fresh otherwise distributes cucumbers, mini-cucumbers, yellow and green squash, red and green peppers and eggplant.

The Kroger Co. announced that Dennis Gibson has been promoted to president of the QFC division. He succeeds Joe Fey, who was named president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division in January.

Gibson has been serving as vice president of merchandising in Kroger's Columbus division.

Two powerful communities in the fresh produce and floral industries are preparing to meet this April as part of a concentration on leadership development, hosted by the Produce Marketing Association Foundation for Industry Talent. The Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference and Emerging Leaders Program are a part of the PMA Foundation’s initiative to establish a workforce with the diverse skills necessary to meet the complex demands of business.