ORLANDO, FL -- An already strong gathering of the Florida fruit and vegetable industry took on an even greater buzz as the top U.S. agriculture official paid a visit to the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association convention, praising the hardworking members of the industry for their dedication and offering to be a sounding board for their concerns about the future of Florida agriculture.

Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc. on the Detroit Union Produce Terminal has announced the addition of Armond Lonbardi to its staff, effective Sept. 13.

Mr. Lombardi, 23, is joining the sales team at Ben B. Schwartz & Sons, and will also do some buying for the company, which handles a full line of commodities and was established in 1906.

Yakima, WA-based Pink Lady America is offering a marketing model new to the apple industry to the marketers of the "Pink Lady" brand apple.

Called market segmentation, the plan was introduced recently to licensees of Pink Lady America.

Monterey, CA-based Pro*Act, a leading fresh produce supplier to the foodservice industry, has announced that Upper Lakes Foods Inc. in Cloquet, MN, has become the latest perishable specialist to join the company's growing distributor ranks.

EVERETT, MA  Planning is underway to double the size of the Boston Market Terminal, here, in a $10.5 million building project.

The board of directors of the BMT convened Sept. 13 to review blueprints to expand this market, which opened in April 1969.

SHERMAN OAKS, CA -- San Antonio Orchard Co. LLC, after an absence of four years, will rejoin Sunkist Growers for sales of its citrus packed in Porterville, CA, at the start of the 2005-06 season. The announcement was made jointly by Sunkist and San Antoni o's owners, the W.H. Latimer Trust, following unanimous approval by the Sunkist board of directors at its September meeting.