China has been a $75 million to $80 million market for California citrus, and growing, but in April 2013 Chinese officials closed access to the Chinese market for California citrus after a plant disease called phytophthora, commonly known as brown rot, was detected on several different loads of fruit.

Since then, the California industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been working with China in an effort to re-open the market, and California Citrus Mutual President Joel Nelsen was optimistic that those efforts may be about to pay off.

The Eastern Produce Council's May 20 dinner meeting took place under clear blue skies and delightfully warm temperatures. As always, a large crowd gathered at Demarest Farm in Hillsdale, NJ, which for many years has hosted the dinner meeting sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and often called the Jersey Fresh cookout. This was the 27th consecutive year that Jersey Fresh has sponsored an EPC meeting.

HILLSDALE, NJ — After New Jersey and most areas of the eastern United States suffered through the long, cold winter of 2013-14, the Eastern Produce Council's May 20 dinner meeting took place under clear blue skies and delightfully warm temperatures — hopefully a harbinger of a strong and successful 2014 season for growers, shippers and distributors handling fresh produce throughout the Garden State.

The mango market hit rock-bottom prices this spring, but U.S. importers are expecting a better market as the summer wears on.

It appears that there were a number of factors leading to the low prices, including many different production areas, growers pushing the price too high too early and new players in the deal.

Mark Andrew Ruma, vice president of Everett, MA-based Ruma’s Fruit, died Friday, May 16 after battling a long illness. He was 44 years old.

A native of Norwood, MA, Mr. Ruma is survived by his parents, Jim and Mary Ruma, sisters Kate Ruma and Andrea Harrington, and brother-in-law Michael Harrington.

The funeral was held at Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home Wednesday, May 21 at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral mass at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norwood at 10 a.m.

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