Kathleen Merrigan was appointed by President Barack Obama as the new deputy secretary of the US Department of Agriculture. Merrigan served as the director of the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

Lowell  Randel, former deputy assistant secretary for Congressional Relations at the US Department of Agriculture, was named director of government affairs at Global Cold Chain Alliance.

Campbell Soup Co. appointed Peter Foyston general manager, Greater China. He will be responsible for building Campbell’s business in the region and will oversee operations in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Sara Lee Corp. appointed Jan Pieter Schretlen to vice president and general manager for its foodservice beverage unit.

Pilgrim’s Pride named Jerry Wilson executive vice president of sales and marketing. He previously served as VP of sales and marketing with Keystone Farms LLC.

Land O’Frost appointed George Smolar to the position of chief financial officer.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.’s Chicago Global Innovation Center received LEED Gold certification.

Quaker Oats Co. is focusing on the health benefits of its products made with whole grain oats. This is the first time in 130 years that the company will speak with one voice on its entire oat-based product portfolio.

National Center for Food Safety and Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology and Avure Technologies Inc. announced FDA acceptance of the institute’s petition filing for commercial use of pressure-assisted thermal sterilization (PATS) processes for application in low-acid foods production.