Dennis Latina, a longtime leader of Philadelphia's fruit import industry, died suddenly at home Oct. 23, one day after celebrating his 60th birthday with family and friends.

J&C Tropicals, based in Miami, is joining forces with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners and Publix Super Markets to launch a new produce brand, "Redland Raised."

The new brand was to be officially announced Oct. 29 at the Publix Super Market at the Tropicaire Shopping Center in Miami. At the announcement, J&C was to feature its signature boniato.

TexaSweet Citrus Marketing Inc. will begin the new marketing season with fresh programs and materials.

"This season we have a wide variety of outreach programs in place, and we can't wait to spread the word about our sweet Rio Star Grapefruit," Eleisha Ensign, executive director of TexaSweet, said in an Oct. 28 press release.

The official estimate from the California Agricultural Statistics Service for the 2009-10 California Navel crop is 80 million cartons (37.5 pound equivalent), up 16 percent from last year but well under the record 95 million-pound crop of 2007-08. In other words, California is looking at a moderate-sized Navel crop this year.

According to CASS, 78 million cartons of California's forecasted 80 million for the coming crop will come from District One, which is the San Joaquin Valley, with the remaining 2 million coming from elsewhere in the state.

USA Bouquet Co. is taking another giant step, this time to the West Coast, as it merges with two growers supplying supermarkets and retail florists there.

In recent years, USA Bouquet, a national firm supplying cut-flower bouquets and arrangements nationwide, has opened full-service regional production facilities to locate its operations closer to its markets. Its headquarters are in Miami.

BRONX, NY -- Although the weather was unseasonably cold and damp, the atmosphere was warm and inviting at the Hunts Point Economic Development Corp.'s 22nd annual business reception, known locally as the Hunts Point Tent Party, held here Oct. 15 on the grounds New Fulton Fish Market at Hunts Point.

Several local dignitaries addressed approximately 350 people who attended the event, which is a celebration of the food industry at one of the larger food distribution centers in the country.