With above-normal rainfall and snowpack for California this year, state and federal water authorities have both increased their allocation of water deliveries to agencies serving farmers in the San Joaquin Valley to 40 percent, up from previously announced allocations of 30 percent.

The increases were announced May 4 in separate press releases from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the California Department of Water Resources.

For the first time since its inception in 2007, the California Leafy Greens Advisory Board has elected new leadership.

During an April 30 meeting of the agreement's Advisory Board, Joe Pezzini, who was a guiding force for the California leafy greens industry's food-safety efforts, stepped down as the first chairman. Jamie Strachan of Growers Express LLC was elected as the new chairman of the advisory board.

In addition, the agreement elected Ryan Talley of Talley Farms as its new vice chairman, and Ron Ratto of Ratto Bros. Inc. as treasurer.

Southern Specialties, based in Pompano Beach, FL, announced May 3 the promotion of Susana Troop to sales manager, a newly created position. Ms. Troop, who has been with the company for six years, formerly served as key account manager.

Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, told The Produce News May 3 that Ms. Troop will oversee daily sales from the company's Pompano Beach sales office and will report to Shannon Barthel, director of sales and marketing.

WILMINGTON, DE -- A record crowd exceeding 200 people attended the fifth annual Taste of Chile dinner on April 28, here.

The evening's primary topic of discussion among the members of the host Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia was the 8.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck Chile on Feb. 27.

At the upcoming Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention in Vancouver, BC, Ocean Mist Farms, based in Castroville, CA, will unveil a redesign of its bilingual packaging for all fresh vegetable commodities the company grows and ships. The features of the new bilingual packaging design, which will be on display during the CPMA exposition, are based on consumer research and input from retail partners, according to Kori Tuggle, marketing manager for Ocean Mist.

On May 5, H.E. Butt Grocery Co., the well-known San Antonio, TX-based regional retailer, is slated to open its first Joe V's Smart Shop, billed as a discount supermarket.

The first store will open in Houston, and press reports indicate that it has a warehouse look. H.E.B. executives did not return phone calls or e-mails from The Produce News by press time, but they have been quoted in the Texas consumer press about the new format.