CORAL GABLES, FL -- Thousands of mango enthusiasts from around the world converged in Miami July 8-9 for the 14th annual International Mango Festival, co-sponsored by the National Mango Board. This year's event celebrated heirloom mango varieties from Cuba, such as the Toledo and Prieto.

The 2006 California garlic harvest is underway, and at the same time imported garlic from China is beginning to arrive in the market.

"This year, the [California] crop looks pretty good," said Louis Hymel of Spice World, which is headquartered in Orlando, FL, and has garlic growing and packing operations in California's San Joaquin Valley. "We started packing just a little later this year than what we normally do, but we expect about a 10 percent increase" in volume.

The Jazz Apple Cycling team was in perfect tune for a podium finish at the Tour de Delta, the final stop on its 2006 North American race campaign.

Michelle Hyland, representing Enza Jazz apples, earned a very close second place in the unique event, where competitors were scored on their combined times in the hill climb (a 700-meter, 9 percent grade time trial), 36-kilometer criterium and 88-kilometer road race. Local favorite Marni Hambledon tallied a mere three points over Ms. Hyland, with less than two seconds separating the cyclists across the three disciplines.

Curry & Co. in Brooks, OR, in partnership with American Onion and Gerrald's Vidalia Sweet Onions Inc., is responding to the need for a year-round sweet onion program that can provide consistently great quality. The firm has taken some of the the better growers in each location and brought them together to provide a strong program.

Lester Spell, Mississippi commissioner of agriculture, led state officials in celebrating the success of the introduction of Mirai corn, along with conventional sweet corn, to the state's Delta region with a field and shed cooler tour, tasting and ribbon-cutting ceremony in late July at the operations of Delta Harvest LLC in Indianola, MS.

LA MIRADA, CA -- More than 200 industry professionals packed the Holiday Inn, here, Aug. 2 for the Fresh Produce & Floral Council's membership luncheon featuring the City of Hope.

The Produce/Floral Division of the Food Industries Circle presented City of Hope with a check for $120,000 to help continue the Southern California facility's cutting-edge technology in its continual effort to prevent and cure cancer and other life- threatening illness.