The United Fresh Produce Association has hired Barry A. Eisenberg, formerly head of technical services for River Ranch Fresh Foods, as its new vice president of food-safety services.

ORLANDO, FL — An "emerging new consumer" is reshaping the way the produce industry presents itself. Attendees of a 2010 Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit workshop on reaching and relating to that new consumer heard from a panel of international experts about how to best begin the process.

“Why is it important to start talking about your brand?” asked Lorna Christie, executive vice president and chief operating officer of PMA. “We're faced with an emerging new consumer. We don’t yet have a clear picture of just who that is, but it is starting to take shape.”

Premium Produce Distributors Inc. in Nogales, AZ, which was founded in 1990 by Gilbert Munguia Sr. and his son, Gilbert G. (Gil) Munguia Jr., is in the process of closing operations. The younger Mr. Munguia is now operations manager and sales manager at the Nogales office of Raleigh, NC-based L&M Cos., and his father has retired.

The New York City Terminal Produce Cooperative Market, which operates the Hunts Point produce market in New York City's south Bronx area, is taking a renewed look at rebuilding in New Jersey. This is among the options being considered by a consultant hired several months ago to help the market break a deadlock with New York City.

The market has for years struggled with its landlord, New York City's Economic Development Corp., to find an alternative to operating the 43-year- old Hunts Point market, whose lease in the south Bronx expires in 2011.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food & Drug Administration found Listeria in processed celery and in multiple locations at a San Antonio, TX, plant when it inspected SanGar Fresh Cut Produce, the firm being investigated for an outbreak that has resulted in four deaths.

The plant was shuttered Oct. 20 by the Texas Department of State Health Services and ordered to recall all products shipped since January after Texas officials found the outbreak strain in celery and the company reportedly refused to conduct a recall. The state is investigating 10 Listeria cases.