Australian companies Perfection Fresh Australia and D'VineRipe have announced in a joint press release that they will merge, effective July 1.

Perfection Fresh is one of Australia's well-known marketers of fresh fruit and vegetables. Started in 1978, the family business has evolved from wholesale and now handles production, processing and marketing.

D'VineRipe operates the largest glasshouse in Australia, based north of Adelaide. Established in 2006, D'VineRipe is a joint venture alliance between Perfection Fresh and the Victor Smorgon Group, a family business.

The Southeast Produce Council raised $50,000 for the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children at its inaugural SPC Charity Golf Classic, held June 18-19 at Chateau Elan in Braselton, GA.

Delhaize Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Holt as chief executive officer for Delhaize America. Holt, formerly president of retail operations at SuperValu, will also become a member of the Delhaize Group executive committee. He will start July 7 and lead the Group’s U.S. operations.

WASHINGTON — Fruit importers are protesting a government proposal to hike agricultural quarantine and inspection service fees — the first in nearly a decade — they say will have severe financial repercussions throughout the market.

In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant & Health Inspection Service proposed new user fees to defray the cost of inspection services at U.S. ports of entry to prevent pests and diseases. At the same time, APHIS proposed changes to the hourly rates charged for overtime work. Comments are due today.

Cherries from the Pacific Northwest are sizing larger than years past, with sugar levels at the top of the charts, according to Columbia Marketing International. Retailers are reporting positive feedback from consumers, but CMI anticipates that the best is yet to come.

With some 2,500 acres of melons in production on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, Westside Produce in Firebaugh, CA, anticipates “business as usual this year,” except for a little bit earlier start than usual, according to Garrett Patricio, vice president and general counsel.

The expected start date is between June 25 and 28, just slightly earlier than the typical start date of about July 1.

“Acreage for the year appears to be normal,” with ample supplies of melons available “during our peak shipping months of July, August, September and into October,” he said.