Visions of the record-breaking 2007 spring onion deal are dancing in the heads of growers and shippers as they are watching this season unfold.

With supplies short, the prices on all onions have skyrocketed over the last couple of weeks -- and there is no break in sight.

"I think we could have a very good market for the next four to six months," said Derrell Kelso Jr., chief executive officer of Onions Etc. Inc. in Stockton, CA.

Gourmet Trading Co., based in Los Angeles, has joined with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to promote the animated family adventure comedy Planet 51, coming to DVD and Blu-ray March 9.

As part of the promotion, iconic characters from the film will be featured on Gourmet Trading's asparagus tags for a month.

Rick Estess, retail marketing manager at Six L's Packing Co. Inc. in Immokalee, FL, has left that company to take a sales position with Russet Potato Exchange in Plainfield, WI.

Mr. Estess was with Six L's as it branched out into potato production in Florida last year, growing a debut crop of red, white and gold potatoes on almost 1,000 acres at the northwestern edge of the Everglades.

Six L's announced plans to double its Florida potato acreage this year.

TAMPA, FL -- Founded 10 years ago with just six members, the Southeast Produce Council is on a roll. From humble beginnings, it has grown to 600 members, many of whom will be in attendance when the council hosts the 2010 Retail & Foodservice Conference & Exposition, known as Southern Exposure, here March 4-6.

E. Alan Mills, who retired as manager of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League in 1979 after 28 years with the organization, died Feb. 15, two weeks before what would have been his 89th birthday.

According to information furnished to The Produce News by Bruce Obbink, past president of the California Table Grape Commission, Mr. Mills was born in Granada, MN, on March 2, 1921, the next to youngest of nine children of Joel Webster Mills and Ida Jane Stewart Mills.

WASHINGTON -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reaffirmed his commitment Feb. 23 to revamping the school lunch program to make it easier for schools to buy healthy fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, one component of the Obama administration's proposal to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act this year.