VISALIA, CA -- The effect of immigration reform (or the lack thereof) on the labor needs of California citrus growers was among several key issues facing the industry that were addressed at the California Citrus Mutual 29th annual meeting, here, Thursday, Nov. 2.

Alan Siger, president and chief executive officer of Consumers Produce, will be honored Nov. 14 at the second annual Legends of the Strip event hosted by the board of directors of Neighbors in the Strip.

"We will have an exceptionally good crop of fresh, field-grown Florida tomatoes available this fall in November and December," said Samantha Winters, marketing director of the Florida Tomato Committee. "The timing couldn't be better for holiday menu-planning and gift-making."

SALINAS, CA -- Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association has taken to the road to gauge support for its proposed Western Growers University, an initiative designed to tailor practical training for its members at a nominal cost to them and with little paperwork hassles.

The New York Apple Association stretches its promotional boundaries as a sponsor of the ING New York City Marathon every year, and the Nov. 5 event proved to be the biggest and best one yet.

Rick Eastes, director of global sourcing for Sunkist Global LLC, has elected not to renew his agreement with the Sunkist subsidiary company beyond Nov. 30, and Mark Tompkins, produce industry veteran and former head of Sunkist's domestic sales network, is returning to replace him.

Mr. Eastes joined the newly created Sunkist Global as its first employee Feb. 1, 2004, with the charge of developing counter-seasonal and complementary citrus from sources outside the United States under the "Sunkist" brand.