EATONTOWN, NJ -- Village Farms, a premier grower and marketer of hydroponic greenhouse-grown products, based here, has announced a land preservation and water conservation project at its Texas facilities that positions the company to be a good steward of the land as well as a good neighbor to area ranches and puts into action its slogan, "What's good for the earth is good for business."

To the editor,

I read and absorbed every word of your eloquent tribute piece to Kline Cash (The Produce News, Nov. 2, 2009, Vol. 112, No. 44). Your account was heart- warming, filled with emotion and precisely accurate.

It has been a trend that has lasted longer than a decade and there is no end in sight. South Texas continues to increase the amount of fresh produce items that enter the United States through its border towns with the help of its longtime produce operators.

The 2009 South African citrus export season has come to a close, and industry leaders have deemed it a success.

"The quality of our citrus this season has been excellent," Joretha Geldenhuys, the recently appointed chief executive officer of the Western Cape Citrus Producers' Forum, said in a Nov. 9 press release. "The last shipments, Midknights, arrived in Philadelphia in containers on October 28, and all have been pre-sold."

TUBAC, AZ -- Members of the Nogales produce industry, who supply the United States with the bulk of its winter vegetables, gathered here Nov. 12- 14 for business sessions and networking events designed to create dialogue and exchange ideas as the Nogales season was preparing to kick off.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approached, bringing with it an increase in demand for vegetables the week of Nov. 16-20, Romaine prices shot through the roof and many other items experienced very strong markets.