SHERMAN OAKS, CA — Sunkist Growers has become a National Strategic Partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrition Communications Network to help build awareness about the new dietary guidelines for Americans and encourage consumers to embrace better health and nutrition.

As a National Strategic Partner, Sunkist will launch a series of communications efforts in support of the dietary guidelines, starting with the message to “Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables.”

The Chuck Olsen Co. in Visalia, CA, has a new citrus marketing deal for this fall and the coming winter and spring, according to said Jeff Olsen, vice president. The company is now selling citrus from The DiMare Co., Indio, which is headquartered in Indio, CA, located in the Coachella Valley.

There are fewer issues on the priority list of California Citrus Mutual this year than there have generally been in the past, but “they are much greater in their potential impact,” said Joel Nelsen, president of the Exeter, CA-based trade association that represents some 12,000 citrus growers.

Kevin Bartolotta, president and owner of Bartolotta Inc. in Torrington, CT, understands how the downswing in the economy has affected many Americans. He is a strong supporter of Friendly Hands Food Bank Inc., also in Torrington, and served on the organization’s board in the late 1990s and in 2000. Now he is reaching out to the produce industry to lend the food bank a “helping hand” through a fundraiser.

Matthew D’Arrigo, vice president of D’Arrigo Bros. Co., located on the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, NY, told The Produce News that he feels November is a good time of the year for the New York Produce Show & Conference to be held.