U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized 14,745 pounds of fresh hog plum and fresh passion fruit last week.

After nine years chairing the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers board of directors, George Gilvesy has chosen not to seek reappointment, which has resulted in the appointment of Steve Peters as his successor, effective Nov. 1.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses — FP & H, J.A. Blurr Farms and H&L Fresh Produce — for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., through its vegetable division Mann Packing, sold its Fresh Leaf Farms brand and operations to First Leaf Farms, a new partnership between the Costa and Nunes families, both prominent leaders in the Salinas Valley produce industry.

Star Roses and Plants, a leading genetics company involved directly in breeding roses, edibles, perennials and woody plants, announced the launch of its redesigned website. The website offers a beautiful new look with easier search and plant filtering, updated photography, expanded grower information, gardening inspiration, brand and program pages and more.

Fourth-generation fresh potato and vegetable supplier Bushwick Commission, based in Farmingdale, NY, has been honored with a prestigious designation as a historic business by the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Bushwick was chosen for its 90-year legacy of service, commitment to the communities it serves, and resilience.