Two sister produce companies, Coastal Sunbelt Produce Co. and East Coast Fresh Cuts Inc., which share a large facility in Savage, MD, have been acquired by MCG Capital Corp., a publicly traded business-development company based in Arlington, VA.

MCG's management team is also a buyer in this deal, which was completed Jan. 8. MCG Capital indicated that it has $1.3 billion in total assets.

John R. Catlin, who spent some 20 years with the Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association as the organization's PACA representative, died Jan. 27 in Olympia, WA. He was 90.

Born July 9, 1917, in Platte, SD, Mr. Catlin graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, with a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry. He spent four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, taking part in the Normandy invasion and landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Frontera Produce Ltd. in Edinburg, TX, has added a new transportation group as part of its growth plan for 2007.

Realizing the need to reduce freight costs and develop a more efficient method of securing transportation, the company turned its focus to developing an in-house team dedicated to timely and reliable deliveries. To manage this program, Larry Stone and Dewayne Finn have joined the company, bringing with them an extensive background in transportation and logistics.

NEW YORK -- Cherries in every imaginable form, from pre-luncheon cherry lime rickey cocktails through several courses and all the way to the passion chiboust with tart cherry consomm? for dessert, were on hand for a luncheon presentation at Town Restaurant in the Chambers Hotel, here, Feb. 6.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA -- Dole Fresh Fruit Co. announced Feb. 16 the recall of cantaloupes in the eastern United States and the Canadian province of Quebec due to potential health concerns.

Some cantaloupes packed on Jan. 25, 26 and 27 by an independent, third- party grower in Costa Rica have tested positive for Salmonella. Although no illnesses have been reported, Dole voluntarily has decided to recall all cantaloupes imported from Costa Rica and packed by that grower.

The California Leafy Greens Advisory Board has been appointed, and the first meeting is set for Feb. 23 in Woodland, CA. Soon after, the board is expected to approve new mandatory food safety standards that will govern all handlers who sign the agreement.

Though the California Department of Food & Agriculture has said that 90 percent of the leafy greens production in the state is represented, one major handler -- Fresh Express -- has declined to participate