The 2011-12 Produce Marketing Association board of directors took office during the association's 2011 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta. Chairman of the Board Rich Dachman, vice president of produce at Sysco Corp., based in Houston, was joined by three other officers and 29 directors.

Village Farms, an Eatontown, NJ-based grower and marketer of high-quality greenhouse-grown hydroponic produce, has launched a rebranding effort that includes a new logo and labeling for its full line of tomatoes, sweet Bell peppers and cucumbers.

Tanimura & Antle, a leading grower-shipper based in Salinas, CA, is expanding its successful “Artisan” lettuce line and will be debuting the newest product, along with new packaging for the entire line, at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit convention in Atlanta.

WASHINGTON — The Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program may be successful in supplying more than 4 million children healthy snacks each day, but this is no time to sit back and relax during these times of budget cuts, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) warned attendees of the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Public Policy Conference.

More than 500 business leaders from 35 states heard from key senators and members of Congress on a wide range of issues — from new E-Verify and school nutrition initiatives to the looming farm bill legislation — at the association’s annual conference.