A new vegetable will enter produce departments this fall: Kalettes, a green and purple offspring of Brussels sprouts and kale. The flavor of Kalettes can be described as sweet and nutty, combining the best traits of each of its parent vegetables.

Chris Nelson, president and chief executive officer of Mixtec Group, an executive search firm in the produce industry, has announced his retirement from the company. Nelson will be succeeded by Jerry Butt, who will assume the role of president and CEO effective June 30.

Yuma Lettuce Days will sprout up "down on the farm" in 2015. The annual feastival that celebrates the area's agricultural abundance will take place Feb. 28 and March 1 at the University of Arizona's Yuma Agricultural Center, a working research farm in the Yuma Valley just west of town.

As the 2014 Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion shipping season draws closer and the industry looks forward to volume and excellent quality out of the Treasure Valley, some sellers and buyers have already planned for consistent availability by contracting supplies ahead of time.

A Dinuba, CA-based packinghouse and cold-storage company is in line for the new California Competes Tax Credit, one of 31 companies across the state selected to participate in the new program.

Fresh Select LLC is the only Central Valley company in the running for $500,000 out of a total of about $30 million in tax credits available. A committee is scheduled to vote June 19 in Sacramento on the first round of tax credits.

Market Fresh, based in Nixa, MO, announced the addition of Adam Faust to its corporate staff on May 28.