PHILADELPHIA -- "Most businessmen don't mind risks. They mind the unknown," said Philadelphia attorney Aaron Krauss, a partner in the downtown law firm Cozen O'Connor, who will be half of a duo speaking in early April to the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia about the legal ramifications of dealing with the unknown within the food-safety realm.

Also speaking will be Bob Sulick, national director of procurement support for Sodexho Health Care Services, which has a U.S. health-care operation based in Simsbury, CT.

After the Food & Drug Administration issued a March 22 alert that a Salmonella outbreak was possibly tied to cantaloupe from Honduras, the produce industry countered with a firestorm of protest from a variety of interests, including the president of Honduras.

CASTROVILLE, CA -- As part of an ongoing commitment to sustainable agriculture, Ocean Mist Farms, a leading grower of artichokes and other fresh vegetables, has formed an alliance with an environmental group in Monterey County to convert farmland into wetlands.

The unusual alliance, called a "convergence of interests" by those involved, started in 2006 when Hugo Tottino and his partners, owners of Ocean Mist Farms, agreed to sell 183 acres of farmland to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for much less than the land's market value for Salinas Valley.

For the second year, Yakima, WA-based Sage Fruit Co. and its regional retail partners have seen a significant uptick in their apple sales as the result of Sage's produce department display contest.

Sage President Chuck Sinks said that the contest ran from early January through late February and involved approximately two dozen retail stores in the Upper Midwest.

"We introduced the Ojai Pixie tangerine to America in 2002," said Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Melissa's/World Variety Produce in Los Angeles. "We are now entering our sixth season, and we are geared up for the continued increase in demand."

Mr. Schueller said that the Ojai Pixie is "the best tasting fruit out there." He described the flavor as a cross between a King and a Dancy tangerine.

New long-term agreements in Africa will help Chiquita Brands International overcome European duty issues, which have plagued "dollar" banana suppliers for many years.

Chiquita, based in Cincinnati, announced March 4 long-term strategic associations in Africa for the export of bananas to the company's core European markets from Angola with ESCOM, a member of Grupo Espirito Santo, and from Mozambique with Matanuska Africa Limited.