The tomato market should be fairly solid this summer as the drought might affect supplies but local deals should help produce promotable supplies for the category.

Just three weeks after the Mexican government implemented its final rule to allow U.S. fresh potatoes into larger cities throughout all of Mexico, as part of a bilateral agreement that facilitates trade in fresh potatoes between the two countries," Mexico has backpedaled and said "no" to U.S. potatoes.

The season’s first citrus from South Africa — 90 tons of clementines and Navel oranges — has arrived in the U.S., marking the start of the 15th season for South African summer citrus in the U.S.

A former vice president of sales at River Ranch Foods has been tapped to lead Malena Produce Inc.’s expanding executive sales team. Peter Hayes directed commodity and private-label programs for this major Salinas-based grower-shipper and now joins the Malena team at its sales offices in Rio Rico, AZ.

Curry & Co. has expanded its blueberry program by partnering with Driediger Farms Ltd. from Langley, BC.

Capitalizing on the growing popularity of convenience-driven fresh cut snack items and its recent success of Woot Froot sliced peaches and nectarines, Fresh Fruit Cuts has expanded its value-added product line and will begin offering fresh cut pears in July, along with destemmed grapes and multi-pack snack bag medleys.