Ecuador, the world's largest producer and exporter of bananas, is planning to institute a new commission that will legally regulate banana exports in an effort to stabilize the global banana market.

A report detailing this effort appeared in Reefer Trends, an independent news and information service for the global reefer shipping business.

Rosemont Farms Corp., based in Boca Raton, FL, has hired Hurley Neer to take on the role of vice president of sales and marketing.

Most recently Mr. Neer was the director of eastern vegetable sales at L&M Cos. in Raleigh, NC, where he held various management positions over the past eight years.

Mr. Neer began his produce career 15 years ago with Del Monte Fresh Produce in Coral Gables, FL, where he moved through the ranks of the organization to become the director of planning and operations for North America.

The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association in Miami has developed a category management program for Peruvian asparagus in an attempt to assist retailers in the increase sales of fresh asparagus.

The plan includes market summary, Peruvian industry facts, consumer positioning, category strategies, a monthly ad planner, suggested goals and objectives, key product and consumer demographics, purchasing facts and other important asparagus statistics.

Things were looking promising for the early cherry crop in the San Joaquin Valley right up until the start of the harvest in late April. Then the rains came.

It had been a notoriously wet winter, and the pattern was not letting up with the arrival of spring. But rarely has the valley seen rainfall of any real significance so late in the season. So with each storm system that passed through, there was an optimism, if not the expectation, that it would be the last.

But Mother Nature dashed those hopes with a vengeance.

Javier Usabiaga, who has served as secretary of agriculture for Mexico under President Vicente Fox since 2000, announced that he will resign his position in order to embark on a campaign for governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, the

Reforma in Mexico City reported May 8.

In the Reforma article, Mr. Usabiaga cited moral reasons for his decision to not hold the secretary of agriculture position while simultaneously embarking on his gubernatorial campaign.

As the long-anticipated Vidalia onion season arrived, millions of the southern jewels are waiting in their beds, awaiting their trips across the country and the world. This year, one extremely special onion has already arrived in Vidalia and then onto the Great White Way.

Sweetie, the new mascot of the Vidalia Onion Committee, made her debut at the Vidalia Onion Festival's air show and craft show to the enjoyment of spectators.