Nunhems, the vegetable seed business of Bayer CropScience, brought together experts from different parts of the watermelon supply chain at its first International Watermelon Conference Oct. 2 in Valencia, Spain.

St. Louis-based Sev-Rend Corp., a manufacturer of tags and labels for various bagged and netted products, is rolling out biodegradable tags for fresh produce.

Sev-Rend's flexible packaging works with form-and-fill machines. An example of usage is two-, three-, four- and five-pound bags of citrus. In December, the company will move into a new state-of-the art facility in Collinsville, IL, about 10 miles from its current location. That facility will be certified by the American Institute of Baking.

WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Produce Association has announced that it will establish a new supply chain technology and logistics program to serve its members in all areas of supply chain management, such as transportation, cold chain quality control, information technologies and systems for traceability, facilities management, packing and packaging needs and related areas.

Shippers in Salinas, CA, are enjoying a very strong lettuce market, and all indications are that it will remain that way through the transitions from Salinas to the San Joaquin Valley and to Yuma, AZ, that will take place over the next six weeks.

The market for a carton of cello-wrapped Iceberg lettuce hovered in the $16- $18 range during the week of Oct. 13.

For what it believes is the first time ever, Chiquita Brands International has launched a consumer rewards and loyalty program in the retail produce department.

WASHINGTON -- There were no takers for a bill that would have compensated the tomato industry for the damage caused during this summer's devastating Salmonella outbreak.

In June, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a nationwide warning that tomatoes were the possible source of a Salmonella outbreak that had sickened more than 1,000 people. The FDA later switched its focus to hot peppers and told consumers to resume eating all tomatoes in the U.S. market.