ORLANDO, FL — The Southeast Produce Council held its annual VIP dinner Monday evening, April 5, at the Swan & Dolphin Resort's Lake Terrace, just prior to the opening of the 2021 Southern Exposure conference and trade show, taking place here April 6-8.

Blueberry demand remains strong with American consumers, and Berry People, a year-round, full-line shipper of branded organic and conventional strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, has promotable volumes of high-quality fruit available.

IMG Citrus, a family-owned, vertically integrated citrus grower, packer, and shipper in Vero Beach, FL, announced the acquisition of a large citrus grove in Charlotte County, FL. The 2,500-acre grove increases its control of citrus land management in Florida by 27 percent, bringing its total acreage in Florida to 11,387 acres and further securing its position as an established citrus leader in the state of Florida. The grove was originally planted in the 1990s and known as the Chiquita grove.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania and Vermont, hired Brianna Wilson as its new perishable shipping supervisor at its Lancaster, NY warehouse.

In this role Wilson will oversee the daily operations of perishable warehouse employees, ensure compliance with all company policies, assist in the training of new hires, and ensure all safety, production, sanitation and quality standards are attained.

Kimberly Paxton-Hagner, co-owner of Kwik Lok Corp. based in Yakima, WA, has been elected to the role of board chair for the company. Kwik Lok is a global company that was founded by Paxton-Hagner’s grandfather, Floyd Paxton, and has been run by her family for three generations. Paxton-Hagner assumed the role as chairperson at the company’s recent board meeting on April 1.

Church Bros. Farms developed a new clamshell for its Little Gem lettuce that protects and showcases the premium variety at retail.