An infrastructure improvement at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, AZ, consisting of the addition of two new lanes, including a new fast lane, is expected to be completed by mid-August. The improvement is designed to speed the process of getting produce trucks from Mexico across the border into the United States to the warehouses in Nogales.

Following weeks of cold, wet spring weather, it appeared at one point that the table grape harvest in California's San Joaquin Valley would start at least two weeks later than normal, and some growers had predicted start dates as much as three weeks late.

But warm and sometimes extremely hot weather over the past two months has changed all that, as timing has generally returned to within three or four days of normal, and reliable supplies of fresh grapes in promotable volume are now available.

Glory Foods in Columbus, OH, a category leader in Southern-style heat-and-serve products, recently announced the promotion of Lisa Cliff-Burk to vice president of sales. Ms. Cliff-Burk has been with Glory Foods since its inception in 1992 and had previously served as national sales director.

Before federal officials asked the tomato industry to better educate businesses on food safety, the North American Tomato Trade Work Group had started working on new safety guidelines for the handling of tomatoes in the field, greenhouse, packinghouses and throughout the food supply chain.

Dennis Gertmenian, the founder and chairman of the board of Ready Pac, has returned as its chief executive officer, a position he left almost three years ago.

Mr. Gertmenian told The Produce News that he is once again in this position simply because he was elected to the position by the Ready Pac board of directors. "The board felt that I was the best person to lead the company to the next level," he said.

From 2 million to 6 million Florida-produced oranges may remain on citrus trees in the state in the coming year because of the current labor situation, according to Liz Compton, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. "It looks as though it could be a very tight situation as we head into the 2005-06 season."