David Fishgold and several other produce veterans who had been handling Mexican-grown produce on the East Coast, moved from New York to Arizona in 2007 and formed a new company, Shipping Point Marketing Inc., based in Phoenix.

Concentrating on their existing customer lists and also adding new customers, “we really started strengthening our Mexican deal” in addition to continuing the importation of products “from all over the world,” most notably Spain, Ecuador, Italy and Holland, Mr. Fishgold told The Produce News.

Malena Produce Inc., which is located in the Rio Rico Industrial Park just north of Nogales, AZ, has recently added 15,000 square feet of cold storage space to the company’s warehouse, according to Gonzalo Avila, vice president and general manager. Racking has been installed in 10,000 square feet of the new addition.

“We have also moved into that new area the forced-air precooling unit that we use in case produce comes in from Mexico not at the right temperature,” he said. That enables the company to cool the product down to the proper temperature upon its arrival in Nogales.

The Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit convention will give Curry & Co., headquartered in Brooks, OR, the opportunity to build upon the success of last year’s event.

River Ranch Fresh Foods, a leading producer of fresh-cut salads and field-fresh commodity vegetables, will introduce a fresh new packaging design at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit in Atlanta.

The new design revitalizes River Ranch’s branding for its line of commodity items and family-size salads and vegetables.

Testa Produce Inc. has taken steps to become a sustainable and environmental leader in the foodservice industry, and those efforts were recognized when Peter Testa, president, was one of three recipients of the Environmental Leadership Award at the ninth annual Illinois Environmental Council dinner, held Sept. 21.

Fowler, CA-based Simonian Fruit Co.’s first pomegranates of the 2011 season are now available.

Simonian began packing this year’s first fruit with Early Wonderfuls around the first week of October. By Oct. 17, Wonderfuls will be in full production and will continue through March, according to a company press release.

With over 50 years of experience in the produce industry in Central California, the company said in the release that the 2011 crop is even larger and juicier than previous seasons.