Todd Staples became commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture in a landslide 2006 election. Previously, he had been a member of both houses of the Texas Legislature. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1995 and joined the Senate in 2000.

California's Panama-Buena Vista Unified School District announced that it is partnering with local growers Sun World International and Pandol Bros. to pilot a salad bar program at its Stonecreek Junior High.

A special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commence the program, which aims to improve nutrition and increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables among students through creative salad bar offerings at lunchtime.

Lindsay, CA-based LoBue Bros. Inc. is kicking off the 2010-11 citrus season with more than just a new crop of fruit. The firm is rolling out a new name, a new identity, new hires and plant upgrades.

After a year of strategic planning, the firm's management has announced that LoBue Bros. Inc. will now be known as LoBue Citrus. The new identity is debuting with an updated logo that features an orange wedge anchored on a field of blue, along with the company tagline, "A Legacy of Excellence."

California-based Wm. Bolthouse Farms Inc. has joined forces with dozens of other growers and a well-known advertising agency to promote baby carrots as a snack food with a $25 million marketing effort.

Entering its third season, The Cranberry Network LLC in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, is sticking to its cornerstone plan, Bob Wilson, a founding partner with Blake Johnston in creating company, told The Produce News Aug. 26.

Del Monte Fresh Produce is moving its northeastern U.S. seaport operation Oct. 1 to the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ, according to Leo Holt, president of Holt Logistics Corp. The Holt family owns Gloucester Marine Terminal, which is more commonly known as the Holt Terminal.

Del Monte is making a very short move from the Broadway Terminal in Camden, which is immediately upstream on the Delaware riverfront from the Holt seaport and refrigerated warehouse.