The United Fresh Produce Association announced that David Gombas has been promoted to senior vice president for food safety and technology, leading all association activities and member services in the scientific and technical areas, a position held by Jim Gorny, who announced that he will leave the association at the end of the month to head the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center at the University of California- Davis.

Steinbeck Country Produce is now offering baby Iceberg lettuce as a complement to its full line of vegetables. This specially developed variety produces grapefruit-size heads of Iceberg lettuce that the company says feature a sweeter, more flavorful taste than conventional Iceberg.

In a move that signals the company's continuing fresh approach to produce marketing, RJO Produce Marketing in Fresno, CA, announced the hiring of Scott Zeier as vice president.

RJO President John O'Rourke said that Mr. Zeier's 30-year retail produce career brings additional retail produce marketing expertise to the company.

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Research & Education Foundation has been renamed the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, Executive Director Mike Carlton announced. The name change is part of a reorganization that began when Mr. Carlton was named as the foundation's first full-time executive director in January.

"The new name clearly and succinctly focuses on the scope of the foundation's mission and membership," Mr. Carlton said in a statement.

Three food-safety bills drafted in response to last year's E. coli outbreak that was traced to Salinas Valley-grown leafy greens appear to have died in the California Legislature.

California state Sen. Dean Florez (D-16th) pushed the bills that would have created a new inspection system for leafy green growers and handlers through the Senate but could not drive them by Assembly member Nicole Parra, a critic of Mr. Florez's legislation and chair of the powerful Agriculture Committee.

A good-sized U.S. grocery chain redid its produce signage a couple of years ago at a cost that probably came close to a half-million dollars -- if not more.

"We did our research, got numerous bids and made our choice," said this chain's vice president of produce, who requested anonymity because going through the channels to get approval for public comments is a time- consuming process.