FirstFruits Marketing LLC and Broetje Orchards recently unveiled Opal, a new apple variety grown in Washington state.

This new apple variety is recognized for its bright yellow color with hints of orange blush, but its key attributes are its crunchy texture and sweet flavor with Brix of 15-18. These flavor and texture attributes come from its cross between a Golden Delicious and a Topaz apple. Other attributes include a medium-round shape, stem end russeting and resistance to oxidation after slicing.

Mangos come into the United States from half a dozen different companies and in even more different carton configurations. As a result pallet counts are all over the board.

"Most people use a nine-pound box but there are some bigger ones and smaller ones," said Bill Vogel, president of Tavilla Sales Co. in Los Angeles. "You might get a pallet with 180 cartons from one shipper and another pallet will have 204 or 210 or 216 or even as many as 240 cartons."

Jeannine Martin, a sales and marketing professional with 35 years of experience in the produce industry, most recently as sales manager of Fowler, CA-based Simonian Fruit Co., has joined Fruit Patch in Dinuba, CA, on the sales desk.

An announcement of the appointment was made March 5 in a Fruit Patch press release.

A retaliatory tariff on California grapes imposed last year by Mexico in response to a U.S. ban on cross-border trucking cost the industry $43 million in 2009, and industry leaders as well as a congressional coalition are pushing hard to get the situation resolved before the start of the 2010 grape season, according to Barry Bedwell, president of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League in Fresno, CA.

VISALIA, CA -- Notwithstanding the current state of the economy in California and nationwide, California Citrus Mutual's annual Citrus Showcase, held here March 4, saw near-capacity attendance for the luncheon and sold- out exhibit space for the trade show. Furthermore, there is a waiting list for exhibitors who hope to participate in future Citrus Showcase trade shows, according to Joel Nelsen, president of CCM.

Citing the destruction of infrastructure in Chile as a result of the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27, a coalition of Delaware River port operators has petitioned U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for a suspension of the April 10 date that regulates the importation of Chilean grapes by the United States. Members of the Desert Grape Growers League of California, however, are opposed to such a move.