NOGALES, AZ -- One of the major activities of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, here, according to Lee Frankel, the association's president, is "increasing the number of retail promotions during our peak season." The program was introduced just last year, and it has been going "very, very well this year," Mr. Frankel said.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. in Coral Gables, FL, announced that its board has authorized a three-year stock repurchase program of up to $300 million of the company's ordinary shares.

The timing and number of shares to be repurchased in the open market will depend on a number of factors, including market conditions and alternative investment opportunities. Repurchases are expected to be funded with the company's cash from operations and revolving credit facility.

DiMare Fresh Scranton is building a new repacking warehouse facility that is expected to be completed in July.

Paul Holmes, general manager of DiMare Scranton, said that the facility will be a state-of-the-art operation featuring the latest technology for packaging and distribution.

It is the third new facility constructed by DiMare Fresh, which is owned by Paul DiMare of DiMare Inc. in Boston. DiMare Fresh built its first new warehouse in Tampa, followed by one in Chicago.

PHILADELPHIA -- Delaware River Valley ports collectively comprise the largest fruit port in the United States and one of the larger in the world. Thus, the national firestorm over the United Arab Emirates involvement in U.S. port security has at least indirectly touched the industry here, as the ports of Philadelphia, Camden, NJ, and Wilmington, DE, are on the front lines of homeland security issues.

The second-largest agricultural market in Latin America took a significant step toward becoming a free trade partner with the United States Feb. 27 with the conclusion of free trade agreement negotiations between the United States and Colombia, although Congress must still approve the deal.

Though there have been hundreds of violations of the new wood packaging regulations regarding imported packaging materials, few have been specific to fruits and vegetables, according to Cathy Sauceda, director of the Special Enforcement Office of Field Operations/Trade Programs for U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

"In anticipation of that question, I asked [the individual port directors] and was surprised to find that fresh produce violations do not represent a disproportionate amount," she told The Produce News Feb. 22.