SunFed, a Rio Rico, AZ-based grower-shipper, has begun work on one of the largest commercial installation of solar power in southern Arizona. The nearly half-megawatt solar system will be mounted on the roof of the company's 46,000-square-foot refrigerated produce distribution facility.

The solar system will nearly offset all the facility's electrical consumption as well as drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and further reduce the company's carbon footprint, according to a Dec. 13 press release issued by SunFed.

U.S. and foreign food companies will have one more month, until Jan. 31, 2013, to renew facility registration with the Food & Drug Administration, the agency announced Dec. 12.

Food facilities that manufacture, process, pack and store food and feed are required by the new FDA Food Safety Modernization Act to renew their registration by Dec. 31, 2012, and every two years after that. Most farms, restaurants and retail establishments are exempted, although certain activities can trigger registration.

The acreage of melons being grown in southern Mexico by MAS Melons & Grapes LLC in Nogales, AZ, for the winter season will be a little higher this year than it was the last two years, according to Miguel Suarez, the company’s managing partner and sales manager.

Bill Litvin, regional sales and national account manager for Giorgio Fresh Co., headquartered in Temple, PA, said that the company offers special holiday packs of stuffer mushrooms that sell extremely well during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Easter.

Two well-known Florida citrus growers are launching a branded tangerine product aimed at getting healthy snacks to children while saving an endangered species.

Lake Wales growers Vic Story and Marty McKenna have created the "Legend of Sun Lion Florida Tangerines" brand for the 2012-13 season. The new venture is pledging 10 percent of company net profits to Florida panther conservation efforts.

Domex Superfresh Growers lent a helping hand at the 108th annual meeting of the Washington State Horticultural Association, which was recently held in Yakima, WA, Dec. 3-5. It provided speakers and panelists for four of the education programs in addition to sponsoring the social and cocktail hour Monday evening and the cherry educational session on Wednesday morning.