Allison Moore has been named director of legislative and regulatory affairs for the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, effective Dec. 7.

"Allison increasingly has helped set the tone for FPAA in its in regulatory and legislative issues," Lance Jungmeyer, president of FPAA, said in a press release. "In this role, she will continue to expand her knowledge and activity in these areas."

Donnie Blanton, a veteran of the California produce industry, died unexpectedly in his sleep Dec. 2 at the age of 46. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Heather Moyse, an Olympic gold medalist hailing from Prince Edward Island, will continue her role as brand ambassador for Prince Edward Island Potatoes.

After a successful first year representing Prince Edward Island Potatoes at consumer and trade events across Canada and via social media, Ms. Moyse will be active in promoting PEI potatoes while competing for spots on both Canada's women's Rugby Sevens team as well as Canada's women's bobsled team.

Gourmet Trading Co., a North American distributor of fresh asparagus, blueberries and blackberries, won the WorldStar Award in the food category for its two-piece display-ready asparagus shipper from the WorldStar Packaging Organisation.

The company was able to enter this international competition after winning the Institute of Packaging Professionals 2012 AmeriStar Packaging Competition for its innovative asparagus package on April 5, 2012.

SunFed, a Rio Rico, AZ-based grower-shipper, has begun work on one of the largest commercial installation of solar power in southern Arizona. The nearly half-megawatt solar system will be mounted on the roof of the company's 46,000-square-foot refrigerated produce distribution facility.

The solar system will nearly offset all the facility's electrical consumption as well as drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and further reduce the company's carbon footprint, according to a Dec. 13 press release issued by SunFed.

U.S. and foreign food companies will have one more month, until Jan. 31, 2013, to renew facility registration with the Food & Drug Administration, the agency announced Dec. 12.

Food facilities that manufacture, process, pack and store food and feed are required by the new FDA Food Safety Modernization Act to renew their registration by Dec. 31, 2012, and every two years after that. Most farms, restaurants and retail establishments are exempted, although certain activities can trigger registration.