The competition is underway to honor companies and chefs among the foodservice industry's top produce performers in the United Fresh Research & Education Foundation's Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards.

Five winning chefs and their corporate executives will receive complimentary airfare, two nights' hotel accommodation and an all access convention pass to United Fresh 2009, slated for April 21-24 in Las Vegas, NV, where the winners will receive their awards at the chairman's reception and awards banquet Thursday evening, April 23.

An ice storm that struck New England Dec. 11-12 hit the distant suburbs of the city.

Camilo Pe?alosa, vice president of Infinite Herbs in Everett, MA, said Dec. 15 that the iciest and most treacherous part of the storm was generally limited to the Interstate 495 ring around the northern and western suburbs of Boston.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Sun World International LLC has named Gordon L. Robertson its vice president of sales and marketing, Chief Marketing Officer David Marguleas announced in mid-December.

Mr. Robertson assumes responsibility for all U.S. and international sales and marketing activities and staff. He joins Sun World from Campbell Soup Co., where he spent 20 years in various sales and trade marketing management roles and where he most recently served as vice president of joint business planning.

The Georgia Watermelon Association is making plans for its annual meeting and Watermelon Queen Contest, which will be held Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 at the Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club in Cordele, GA. The event offers exhibits, networking, recreational opportunities and educational sessions designed to bring the most up-to-date and relevant information to the watermelon industry.

Though his family's roots in produce run deep, Luc Charbonneau got his start in produce the old-fashioned way: selling bananas from the back of his car.

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama should move fast to name a U.S. Food & Drug Administration commissioner if the administration "hopes to hit the ground running" on key issues, such as tightening import regulation, according to a Nov. 24 letter to Mr. Obama's transition team from the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, an umbrella group of 180 consumer, industry and health organizations advocating more money for FDA.