TORONTO — This year’s CPMA convention offered some lucky fourth- and fifth-grade students in the Freggie’s Children’s Program the opportunity not only to learn about fruits and vegetables, but also how to grow a dream, courtesy of special guest Katie Stagliano.

Giumarra Vineyards Corp. in Edison, CA, announced the addition of MIMI CORSARO-DORSEY to its sales and marketing team.

The Tom Lange Co. announced May 6 the opening of a new office in Miami, which will operate as Seven Seas Miami.

The new office is located in a warehouse strategically located close to the Miami International Airport and in close proximity to Port Miami, which is currently undergoing a $2 billion infrastructure renovation. Being located close to Port Miami, one of the top container ports in the nation, will provide Seven Seas Miami unlimited import and volume potential, according to a company press release.

Kiwifruit is big business for Stellar Distributing of Madera, CA. A leading importer of Italian and Chilean kiwi for the last two years, Stellar Distributing has launched a kids’ kiwi program to promote healthy eating.

“We have started shipping these new kiwi kid bag styles and the idea is to grab the attention of parents in grocery stores with our convenient pack styles to try to appeal to the health-conscious parent,” said Kurt Cappelluti, sales manager at Stellar Distributing. “They are in select grocery stores now and we are looking to expand.”

A good portion of the previous two years involved merger talks with the industry’s other national organization that ultimately did not succeed, but that has led to a stronger United Fresh Produce Association, according to Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of the Washington, DC-based organization.

TORONTO — Walt Breeden of The Oppenheimer Group officially took over as chairman of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association at the group’s 2013 convention, here. Mr. Breeden, who takes over for outgoing chairman Jim DiMenna, president of JemD Farms, is the sixth member of his company to hold the position and he expects his pathway during his term will be similar to Mr. DiMenna’s.