On June 18, Fort Pierce, FL-based DNE World Fruit Sales' first 2010 shipment of Australian citrus arrived at the port of Long Beach, CA, carrying some pleasant surprises.

A heat wave after the Australian trees blossomed caused a bloom drop, and subsequent heavy rains resulted in huge, sweet fruit and a "surprisingly pretty strong crop," Stu Monaghan, national sales manager for DNE, told The Produce News June 28.

Wendy Brannen suspected she might have a hit on her hands with the Vidalia onion industry's latest promotional effort: An unlikely pairing of sweet Georgia onions and one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures, the animated ogre Shrek.

The campaign -- "Ogres and Onions" -- rolled out in May along with the premiere of the fourth Shrek movie, "Shrek Forever After," and it has been an unqualified smash.

Two antitrust cases have been filed against the United Potato Growers of America and others, but a spokesperson for United has termed the allegations "unfounded."

"Two antitrust cases have been filed against United Potato Growers of America and 23 other entities. The complaints allege that United and its members do not qualify for the limited antitrust protection accorded cooperatives by the Capper-Volstead Act," Barb Shelley, chief communications officer for UPGA, said in a written statement June 29.

When a member of Sam's Club enters one of the chain's more than 600 stores, he or she can go directly to a kiosk located at the front of the store, swipe a membership card and print out a handful of specially designed coupons.

TRENTON, NJ -- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher announced at the end of June that the "Jersey Fresh" logo with the additional wording "Made with" is now available to companies that make food items using New Jersey's agricultural products.

Crunch Pak LLC, headquartered in Cashmere, WA, is expected to grow its sliced apple business, and the recent acquisition of Stemilt Growers' "AppleSweets" line is expected to reinforce Crunch Pak's growing volume. "We will certainly see an increase, we believe, of about 10 percent," Director of Marketing Tony Freytag told The Produce News June 28.