MONTEREY, CA -- From a buying co-op founded in 1991 by six visionary independent distributors, PRO*ACT has grown to become what it has called America's leading distributor of fresh produce to the foodservice industry.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the group today is comprised of 45 distributors with over 70 distribution centers, all leading specialty distributors in their markets, who together represent more than $3 billion in sales and more than 50 million cases of fresh produce purchased and sold through the PRO*ACT network annually.

VENTURA, CA -- "2010 was a good year for Sunkist growers," Sunkist President and Chief Executive Officer Russell Hanlin told the more than 800 growers who met Feb. 23 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds for the citrus marketing cooperative's 117th annual meeting.

"In 2010 we were faced with, and successfully overcame, many difficulties imposed by the weak global economy," Mr. Hanlin said in a Feb. 23 press release. "We ended the year strong and financially stable, increasingly more efficient and well-positioned for continued success."

SAN DIEGO -- Bolstered by recent research regarding health benefits of watermelon, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved new health-related statements that the watermelon industry is now allowed to use in promoting its product, Mark Arney, executive director of the National Watermelon Promotion Board, headquartered in Orlando, FL, said during the 97th annual National Watermelon Association convention, held here Feb. 23-27.

The Southeast Produce Council is ready to rock and roll.

The council’s eighth annual Retail and Foodservice Conference & Expo will take place March 3-5 at the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center in Orlando, FL, with the theme, Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

WILMINGTON, DE – The port of Wilmington in Delaware celebrated the maiden voyage of Seatrade's new refrigerated cargo ship, the m/v Atlantic Klipper.

The new ship, which loaded in Valparaiso, Chile, began discharging containers on its deck Feb. 23. The Diamond State Port Corp., which owns and operates the port of Wilmington, hosted a formal morning celebration of the maiden voyage Feb. 24 and offered a press tour of the ship that afternoon.

The theme of the 2011 annual Vidalia onion industry banquet was baseball -- “What a Team When We All Play Together.” According to Vidalia Onion Committee Executive Director Wendy Brannen, 2010 was one of the more exciting marketing years for the commission -- a “home run” for the famous Vidalia sweet onion.