Bloyce Thompson is adding extra roles to his daily routine of milking Holstein cows. He is Prince Edward Island’s new minister of agriculture and land, justice and public safety and attorney general.

Growers of hops now have access to an insecticide for control of leafhoppers on hops in Canada.

Fresh produce continues to lead all perimeter departments in growth in the U.S. according to the United Fresh Produce Association’s Q1 2019 edition of FreshFacts on Retail report. Broccoli is one of four fresh commodities, along with avocados, blueberries and raspberries -- that experienced the greatest growth in 2019 Quarter 1.

Growers from the Great Lakes and the Maritimes are invited to join a pest monitoring network. Specifically, growers of sweet corn and snap beans will benefit.

Anne Fowlie, who helmed the Canadian Horticultural Council for 17 years, has been appointed to the federal government’s External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness.

Hazel Technologies Inc., based in Salinas, California, has developed a small, biodegradable and food-safe insert to extend the shelf life of a carton of fresh fruit. Now the post-harvest sachet is being launched for one of the most challenging fruits to keep fresh – cherries.

Devin Dreeshen is the new minister of agriculture and forestry for Alberta. The fifth-generation farmer, 31, is part of Premier Jason Kenny’s new United Conservative Party cabinet.

McCain Foods Foods USA Inc., the world’s largest producer of frozen French fries, is investing $300 million in its Othello, Washington potato processing facility. The expanded plant will require 11,000 more acres of potatoes to fill capacity.

The manufacturers of Manzate Max have been granted registration of their product for control of fungi on apples, potatoes and vegetable crops. The fungicide, a liquid formulation, is targeted at a broad spectrum of key diseases.

BCfresh has appointed produce veteran Dawn Gray to its board of directors. This year marks her 40th year in the global produce industry, having worked with some of the top produce companies in the world.