Mission Produce has opened a 262,000-square-foot avocado ripening and processing facility in Laredo, Texas, the largest in North America. The plant also includes cold storage and packaging space. The building is located in Laredo’s Pinnacle Industry Center on 32.6 acres adjacent to the Rio Grande River and the Mexican Border. The new facility will allow Mission to capitalize on the continued popularity of its signature product in the nation’s busiest land port.

The U.S. Apple Association has named Michigan grower Chris Alpers of RedPath Orchards and Alpers Farms to lead its board of directors. He will serve the 2021-22 term. A third-generation grower, Alpers is the operations manager of RedPath Orchards and Alpers Farms and a partner in Alpers Tree Sales in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, where he grows apples, as well as sweet and tart cherries.

Don Goodwin, founder and former owner of GoldenSun Insights, a strategy-centric firm focused in the fresh produce industry, passed away on Sunday, April 18th, 2021. Goodwin was 58 years old. He leaves behind his loving wife, Roxanne, and daughter Isabella. He was surrounded by family during his passing. Goodwin had been battling multiple myeloma since November 2013.

The United Fresh Produce Association recently announced its 2021 Retail Produce Manager Awards honorees. Karen O’Dell, produce manager at the Martin’s Super Market in Granger, Indiana--a SpartanNash brand--was among the 25 produce managers recognized for her contributions to the industry.

FiveStar Gourmet Foods, Makers of Simply Fresh, is bringing aboard proven produce industry leader Michael Solomon as president, effective immediately. Reporting to CEO Tal Shoshan, Solomon will oversee all day-to-day operations out of the company’s Ontario, California, headquarters. Shoshan will continue to oversee the company’s innovation and strategic growth.

Bowery Farming, the largest vertical farming company in the U.S., unveils a new "Farmer's Selection" product category, a line of rotating, small-batch, wildly flavorful, next-generation greens, curated by Bowery's R&D team. Bowery’s Mustard Frills — hearty mustard greens with a tingly start and a fiery, wasabi-style finish — are the first greens released under this new category and will be available in select grocery retailers this week through spring 2021, followed by Green Sorrel.

Leonardo’s Produce (“Leonardo’s”), a distributor of fresh produce and specialty products, joined FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies backed by Rotunda Capital Partners, further diversifying the group’s combined customer base and increasing its breadth and depth of service offerings in Michigan and Ohio. Leonardo’s joins a growing family that includes Piazza Produce & Specialty Foods, Indianapolis Fruit, Get Fresh, McCartney Produce, Garden Cut, Cibus Fresh and Papania’s.

McCartney Produce, a distributor of fresh produce and specialty food products, joined FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies, further diversifying the group’s combined customer base and increasing its breadth and depth of service offerings in the Midwest and Southeast. McCartney joins a growing family that includes Get Fresh, Indianapolis Fruit, Piazza Produce & Specialty Foods, Garden Cut, CIBUS Fresh, and Papania’s.

Tim York was named as the new Chief Executive Officer of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) during a recent Board of Directors meeting. York will replace Scott Horsfall who is retiring in early 2021.

The U.S. Apple Association announced the promotions of Jessa Allen to Vice President of Membership and Events and Tracy Grondine to Vice President of Communications.