After cashing a check last month from the local utility company for creating more power than he used, Chuck Thomas, president of Thomas Produce Sales Inc. in Nogales, AZ, is scratching his head trying to figure out why his was one of the first produce warehouses to install solar panels in the area.

“I was very surprised that nobody else had done it,” he said. “Especially last year when the tax incentives were so great.”

Spice World Inc. in Orlando, FL, which introduced a processed garlic product it calls Squeeze Garlic a year or so ago in a 20-ounce bottle.

Squeeze Garlic is minced garlic in a convenient, easy-to-use squeeze bottle.

“We are always doing new things,” said Louis Hymel, director of purchasing. Now “we are packing a nine-and-a half-ounce size of the Squeeze Organic, which is a new product for us.”

In addition, the company is now doing “a squeeze garlic packed in extra virgin olive oil, which really accents that product well,” he said.

GATINEAU, QC — Nelson Lachance was honored as a QPMA Pillar of the Quebec Industry during the final banquet at the 65th annual QPMA convention, held here Aug. 16-18. Mr. Lachance’s look back at key moments in his 50 years in the produce industry highlighted key mentors that supported him along the way.

Sunkist Growers will source its entire Texas grapefruit volume exclusively from Lone Star Citrus. The expanded joint program will enable Sunkist to provide a year-round supply of grapefruit to its customers.

Sunkist, an international marketing cooperative headquartered in Sherman Oaks, CA, began sourcing and shipping Texas grapefruit in 2001.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration said Aug. 21 that it is taking the next step in reviewing a request to terminate the tomato suspension agreement with Mexico.

The agreement sets a minimum price that Mexican producers-exporters can sell their fresh and chilled tomatoes to eliminate damaging effects of exports on U.S.-grown tomatoes.

Farmer’s Fresh Fruit Co. in Reedley, CA, is a relatively new company, now in its second year in business, but some of the growers whose grapes are handled by Farmer’s Fresh have been working with Randy Garrett, the company’s general partner, for nearly 20 years, according to Peter Vallis, partner and chief financial officer.

Mr. Garrett was a founding partner of New Leaf Grape Co. and subsequently (in 2002) founder of Selma Fruit Co. LP.