Produce prices are high, business is competitive and independent retailers are prospering in the Kansas City area, according to local industry leaders.

Ed Baloian, chairman of Baloian Farms in Fresno, CA, will be honored Feb. 27 with Ag One's 2010 Community Salute Award in recognition of his more than 60 years of devoted service to the California produce industry and his commitment to his community.

The Baloian family has been in the produce business since 1923, when Mr. Baloian's father, Charles, started a full-service produce business. Brothers Ed and James Baloian joined their father as partners in the business in 1945 upon returning to Fresno after serving in World War II.

According to numerous news sources, including The Sacramento Bee, F. Scott Salyer, the former owner of SK Foods and Salyer American Fresh Foods in Salinas, CA, was arrested Feb. 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport after getting off a flight from London.

Fruit Patch LLC in Reedley, CA, which recently hired former California Tree Fruit Agreement President Sheri Mierau to head its sales and marketing team, announced the appointment of Sabrina Mak as trade marketing manager.

Ms. Mak, who will report to Ms. Mierau and who was previously director of trade marketing and director of national programs for Ballantine Produce in Reedley, CA, has 19 years of industry experience.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, the timing was perfect for Well- Pict and Lifetime television network to showcase the attributes of Well-Pict premium strawberries.

The $5,000 question facing independent owner-operators of refrigerated trucks is whether or not the expenditure of that amount of money is worth it to continue to haul loads from California.

On Jan. 1, new California regulations went into effect that require all refrigerated trailers to be equipped with a filter unit that reduces the emissions of particulate matter from their refrigeration units.