Despite challenging economic times, Produce for Kids raised more than $422,000 for local Children's Miracle Network and children's hospitals this spring, bringing the total amount the organization has raised since its inception to more than $2.3 million.

Six regional grocery retailers and 39 fresh fruit and vegetable growers from across the United States participated in the spring Produce for Kids campaign including Acme, Meijer, Giant Foods (Carlisle division), Price Chopper, Publix and the Kroger stores located in Dallas and Houston.

The Produce Marketing Association's annual Fresh Summit convention, to be held Oct. 2-5 in Anaheim, CA, offers one of the better formal and informal opportunities to network, make new contacts and work to grow a produce business.

It all starts on Friday, Oct. 2, with the Welcoming Reception, scheduled from 6-8 p.m. at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel. The reception is designed to help attendees develop new business relationships and reconnect with colleagues. The Chilean Fresh Fruit Association is the sponsor of the welcoming reception.

David Webster, chief executive officer of AgraCo Technologies International LLC, sold his interest in AgraCo late last month to Ken Potter, who was an AgraCo founding partner when Mr. Webster started AgraCo in 2001.

AgraCo has been based in Mr. Webster's office in the Philadelphia suburb of Lafayette Hill, PA.

[Mr. Potter] "is a good man, and I am very happy that the company is in good hands," Mr. Webster told The Produce News Sept. 21.

Three Leafy Greens Council leaders will report on the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture hearings regarding the proposed National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement at the council's annual Leadership Conference at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in Room 303A at the Anaheim (CA) Convention Center.

WASHINGTON -- Tom Stenzel, United Fresh Produce Association's president and chief executive officer, released Sept. 29 the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children, which will begin national distribution of fruit and vegetable vouchers Oct. 1.

LIMA, PERU -- Peru's land and weather make it an ideal location for fresh fruit and vegetable production, according to Fernando Albareda, the commercial counselor for the consulate general of Peru in Miami. "Our fruit is sweeter because we have more sun," he said, adding that moderate temperatures are also a huge plus.

On Peru's central coast, Fahrenheit temperatures typically stay between 50 and 77, he added. "It only gets to freezing in the Andes." In the world, 104 microclimates have been identified, and Peru possesses 84 of those microclimates.