Created by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association as a pilot program, the Passion for Produce program provides rising stars within the produce industry the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the supply chain through mentorship and participation in various events.

Passion for Produce is meant as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for participants to learn about the produce industry in an interactive setting while receiving an education on key aspects of the produce supply chain from field to fork.

Overall damage associated with a storm cell that tore its way through the western Treasure Valley Aug. 6 is expected to be minimal for the region's onion growers.

"Time will tell whether it injured [our] crop," said Tiffany Cruickshank, transportation manager/sales and marketing associate for Snake River Produce Co. in Nyssa, OR.

Grant Kitamura, managing member of Murakami Produce Co. in Ontario, OR, who was out inspecting fields on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, said, “There was very little damage to bulbs.”

Pat Pizzuto Sr., owner of the former Waltham Fruit Co. in Cambridge, MA, died July 4 after a brief illness. He was 90 years old.

Mr. Pizzuto, who grew up in Cambridge, lost his father at age 12 and dropped out of school at 15 to work at Waltham Fruit to help support his mother and eight siblings.

In 1943, Mr. Pizzuto opened three retail produce stores with his wife, Mary. In 1949, he returned to Waltham Fruit and purchased the company.

Colorful Harvest's new crop of Ruby Jewel sweet red corn is now being harvested near Merced, CA, in the Central Valley, and barbecue enthusiasts are flocking to local stores to get their share.

Once a secret of chefs who use the raw or roasted kernels to add color and crunch to their recipes, backyard barbecue chefs have taken to grilling the unusual corn to bring out the naturally sweet flavors.

Ruby Jewel sweet red corn is a special variety developed through traditional plant breeding methods and grown only by Colorful Harvest.

Andy Gustavson, produce manager for Ben Lomond Market in Ben Lomond, CA, and produce supervisor for sister store Scotts Valley Market in Scotts Valley, CA, told The Produce News in late July that strawberries were selling well but that August brings competition for other items.

August signals a push in peaches, plums and melons - and locally grown corn.

Strawberry volume typically is high in April, May and June.

Chiquita Brands International launched its new blend of artisanal packaged salads on a nationwide basis. The salads bring the taste of the four seasons with ingredients cultivated by artisanal growers and picked throughout the year for optimal freshness and taste. "The new Fresh Express artisanal salad line is the most recent example of our commitment to meeting consumer demand for a delicious and unique salad eating experience," Brian Kocher, president of Chiquita North America, said in an Aug. 10 press release announcing the release of the line.