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www.SugarProducer.com 9 News and Updates from the Sugarbeet industry Vanhoy Joins Vestaron as CFO Jessica Vanhoy has joined Vestaron as the company's as chief financial officer. Most recently director of financial planning and analysis for Dova Pharmaceuticals, Vanhoy has 20 years of experience in accounting and finance, fostering teamwork through company growth. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Appalachian State University and an MBA from Campbell University, and is a certified public accountant in the state of North Carolina. Wilbur-Ellis Acquires Ag Services, Inc. Wilbur-Ellis Company LLC, a recognized leader in precision agriculture technology and the distribution and marketing of plant protection, seed and nutritional products, recently announced its acquisition of the assets of Ag Services, Inc. Ag Services, Inc., located in California's Coachella Valley, has provided listing services, dry fertilizer application and liquid fertilizer delivery to its customers for the past 15 years. This purchase is a strategic boon for Wilbur-Ellis, enabling the company to provide full-service fertilizer offerings in the Coachella Valley, essentially doubling Wilbur-Ellis's overall business in the area. As of April 24, 2019, Ag Services, Inc. assets and employees, including operations manager Tom Becker and listing driver Sergio Tapia, officially became part of Wilbur-Ellis Company. Wilbur-Ellis now owns and operates the Ag Services, Inc. Legion Bio Chem Renamed as Nutra-Crop Nutra-Crop, a brand evolution of Legion Bio Chem, recently announced its name change to customers and dealers. According to senior leadership, the team and products remain the same, but the new name highlights the dedicated effort to provide solid agronomic solutions. GroForward Solutions from Nutra-Crop will continue to deliver solutions with producers—and their fields—in mind. The proven and powerful nutrient options are ready to mix with any current program to maximize soil productivity and plant growth. The four product families within GroForward Solutions remain: FasGro starter fertilizers, ZenaGro essential micronutrients, FortiGro for faster foliar absorption and EnduraGro microorganisms and biostimulants. Newly added to the mix is NovaGro, a family of products ready for tank mixing. Learn more about Nutra-Crop's mix- and-match nutrient solutions at www.nutracrop.com. BioSafe Adds to Sales Team BioSafe Systems announces the hiring of Mathew Smith and Taylor Vadon as technical sales representatives for its agricultural sales division. Based in Fillmore, Calif., Smith will work to build new sales opportunities, maintain relationships with distributors, and support the company through representation at events within his territory. Smith earned a bachelor's degree from California State University in Fresno, majoring in plant science with an emphasis in plant health. He also is a licensed pest control advisor in California and a certified agronomist. Prior to joining BioSafe Systems, Smith worked for Wonderful Citrus as a grower relations representative in the citrus and avocado industries. Based in Healdsburg, Calif., Vadon will be working to build new sales opportunities and support the company through representation at events within the wine grape industry. He earned a bachelor's degree in crop science from Chico State University and is currently enrolled in a master's program in viticulture and enology from Charles Sturt University. Prior to joining BioSafe Systems, Vadon worked for Clendenen Vineyard Management as viticulturist and manager of new vineyard development. He has worked with all aspects of citrus, crops for seed production, and stone fruit crops. Mathew Smith Taylor Vadon FDA Recognizes Nothing Added to Real Sugar In response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's issuance of its final guidance regarding the labeling of added sugars for single-ingredient sweeteners, Courtney Gaine, president and CEO of the Sugar Association, issued the following statement: "It is a relief for the sugar industry to finally have a path forward with labeling bags and boxes of sugar. We are certainly pleased FDA updated this guidance to reflect that there is no sugar added to real sugar and that the inclusion of an added sugars line for sugar would have misled consumers. However, we are concerned that the percent daily value declaration for single-ingredient sweeteners may be confusing and should have been consumer-tested before finalizing this guidance. We have no idea if this information serves as a constructive tool that enables people to follow the Dietary Guidelines and is not information that is misleading. "We support the way FDA is handling cranberry products. It makes a lot of sense to permit factual statements explaining sugar's role in these products, which, without added sugar, would otherwise be unpalatable. However, there certainly are other products with health benefits (i.e., yogurts and whole grain and fiber- rich cereals) where sugar plays a similar role in palatability that would also benefit from such a disclaimer. Oftentimes, comparable products in these categories are sweetened with sugar substitutes." n