The Mexican government published a final regulation March 20 regarding cross-border trade of fresh potatoes, allowing shipments of potatoes between the United States and Mexico in both directions, with the details on phytosanitary and other protocols still to be worked out.

David Andrew Kirkland, former director of purchasing for Adams Produce Co. in Birmingham, AL, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison March 20, 2014, according to an AL.com report. Upon his release, Kirkland will serve three years of probation.

Giumarra Reedley announces its summer 2014 plum promotion, “Easy as Pie,” which should boost the quantity of plums consumers purchase. The new packaging and retail display program will be introduced to the industry at the Northern California Fresh Produce & Floral Expo on April 9 in Pleasanton, CA. Giumarra will be at Booth No. 95.

Deardorff Family Farms in Oxnard, CA, which grows 120 acres of strawberries in the Oxnard area in addition to an assortment of vegetables, expects the strawberry harvest to be “rocking and rolling” by the third week of March, according to Doug Lowthorp, a salesman for the company.

The season got off to a good start, because there had been no adverse weather from early December through the end of February, Lowthorp said. “Everything has been fantastic” up until late February rains disrupted the harvest.

Village Farms LP is a North American-based company with headquarters in Delta, BC, and in Heathrow, FL.

The company is a leading producer of high-quality greenhouse produce. It operates more than 262 acres and markets an additional 120 acres of greenhouse tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers across North America.

Helen L. Aquino, marketing manager for Village Farms, told The Produce News that Vancouver is home of Village Farms International where it has greenhouses located just south in Delta.

The April CPMA Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver, BC, will mark the end of Walt Breeden’s term as chair of the Association, and he’s proud of the accomplishments of his team.

Breeden, director of Canadian sales for The Oppenheimer Group, reflected back on the highlights of his year in the spotlight as he prepares to hand the torch over to Metro’s Bernadette Hamel. “It’s been an outstanding opportunity to be CPMA chair. You don’t realize unless you travel across the country how passionate people are about the produce industry,” he noted.