With the goal of providing increased opportunities for Mexican companies within the protected agriculture industry for advanced technology resources and integrated talent development services, AMHPAC, the Mexican protected horticulture association, in partnerships with the Mexican Department of Agriculture, CONACYT, Mexico’s National Science & Technology Council, and CYCASA, a consulting services firm dedicated to improving competitiveness of rural companies, are sponsoring the third CEDETECH Center, which is scheduled to open this summer.  

FRESN0, CA — Crown Jewels Produce, here, is “anticipating a good season” in cantaloupes and honeydew melons for the West Side deal this year, according to Atomic Torosian, a partner in the company.

“This will be our fourth year in a row” representing the “King Crow” label from Perez Packing Inc. in Firebaugh, CA, which is owned by the Perez family, Mr. Torosian said May 25.

According to the Oregon Blueberry Commission, the state's producers are expected to harvest over 70 million pounds of the fruit this season. If reached, the volume will be another production record.

Another random sample by state officials prompted Dole Fresh Vegetables to recall 1,077 cases of bagged salads for the potential for Listeria contamination, the company said June 23.

The company notified customers after North Carolina inspectors found a positive result of Listeria monocytogenes in Marketside Leafy Romaine salad. Dole Fresh Vegetables said that it is coordinating closely with regulatory officials and has received no reports of illnesses linked to the products.

Growers Express LLC in Salinas, CA, has taken over the operations of Salinas-based Frisco Farms, which is the precursor to adding Merrill Farms LLC as a partner in the operation, beginning with next year's crops.

"We have taken over the responsibility of marketing the crops of Frisco Farms and organizing the sales operation," Jamie Strachan, chief executive officer of Growers Express, told The Produce News. "And soon Ross [Merrill] will join us as a partner in Growers."

Michigan’s tree fruit growers sustained serious losses this production season following a rollercoaster cycle of warm weather and subsequent freezes. March temperatures soared upward as tree buds began to open early. The warmth was followed by killing freezes in April that stopped production dead in its tracks for apples, cherries, peaches and grapes. Blueberries, which move into production later in the season, were relatively unharmed.