NAPLES, FL -- Even the worst season in a decade was not enough to keep attendees at the 34th annual Florida Joint Tomato Conference from focusing on the future.

"Dreadful," committee Chairman Bob Spencer said in summarizing the 2008- 09 season in the Florida Tomato Committee's annual report, which was released at the conference, held Sept. 8-14 at the Ritz-Carlton-Naples, here. "It is doubtful the industry could survive another season like this one."

Stemilt Growers recently unveiled a pair of promotions designed to help retailers sell apples and pears during the fall and winter months.

The What a Pear promotion is new this year, while Crunch before Lunch was given a fresh design since Stemilt originally launched it back in January 2008.

Market 52, a premier supplier of berries, table grapes, asparagus and other globally sourced fresh produce based in Visalia, CA, has expanded its operation into north, central and southern Chile.

Jerald Downs, president of Market 52, has invested close to a decade in developing and nurturing the company's relationships with strategic Chilean growers. From growing, harvesting, packing, quality control and distribution, Market 52 is involved in every aspect of its Chilean operations, with the help of its hand-picked team of on-the-ground, highly skilled employees.

“A quality product is the only way to build a business.” — Bernard A. Egan

Citrus industry legend Bernard A. Egan was literally born into the business, arriving in Elizabeth, NJ, on June 7, 1914, the same year his father, Joseph, an Irish immigrant who had come to the United States in 1890, launched Egan Fickett & Co. and the Nevins Fruit Co. in New York City.

Christopher Wada, 29, son of Albert Wada, who is chairman of Wada Farms in Pingree, ID, and grandson of the company's founder, Frank Wada, grew up in the potato business but worked briefly outside the industry after graduating from college before returning to the family business in October 2004.

At that time, he joined the company's marketing entity, Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC in Idaho Falls, ID.

His older brother, Brian Wada, is chief operating officer of Wada Farms Marketing.

Ippolito International LP is voluntarily recalling 1,715 cartons of bunched spinach distributed in 12 states and three Canadian provinces because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The Salinas, CA-based firm issued a press release Sept. 18 saying that "the voluntary recall is explicitly limited to 1,715 cartons" and "comes after routine random testing of bunched spinach in Michigan by the USDA Microbial Data Program, collected and analyzed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture tested positive. No illnesses have been reported to date."