VENTURA, CA -- "2008 was another billion-dollar year for Sunkist, the 11th in the past two decades -- which includes four freeze years," Sunkist President and Chief Executive Officer Russ Hanlin was quoted in a Feb. 18 company press release as saying to the more than 500 growers attending Sunkist Growers' 115th annual meeting at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. "In 2008 our total revenues were up 8 percent over 2007, and at $839 million, payments were up 5 percent."

Gordon Hunt had been in South Vietnam for eight months. Troops were to receive a rest-and-relaxation break every six months.

But war being what war is, Mr. Hunt's chance to break had not yet arrived.

It was 1968, and Mr. Hunt, who today is director of marketing for the National Watermelon Promotion Board in Orlando, FL, finally received word that a handful of slots had opened up.

SALINAS, CA -- Colorful Harvest LLC has gained visibility in recent years with items such as multi-colored carrots, red corn, multi-colored cauliflower, seasonal green beans, melons and strawberries.

The company, based here, increasingly is becoming a major player on the bushberry scene with its strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries as well as year-round offerings of both conventional and organic berries, according to Chief Operating Officer Doug Ranno.

The San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market has kicked off a new phase of its comprehensive waste management program, according to Michael Janis, general manager of the market.

"The goal is to decrease what goes to the landfill," he said. "We're aligning our merchants with the city's waste management."

Ben Parker Inc. in Dallas ceased operations owing almost $8 million in debt, with accounts-receivables of about $3 million, according to court documents prepared by the firm's in-house accounting employee.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association announced the launch of producetraceability.org, an on-line resource to aid produce companies in the transition to new traceability measures proposed by the joint Produce Traceability Initiative.