Dick Keim, director of sales for Prime Produce International LLC in Lake Forest, CA, has left Prime Produce and will be opening a Southern California office for an existing produce company whose name is yet to be announced.

The latest version of the Sonora Spring Grape industry's exclusive GrapeTRAX category trend study was discussed at a meeting of about 70 growers and shippers in Hermosillo, Mexico, the first week in April. Hosted by the Sonora Grape Growers Association (AALPUM) in partnership with its Nogales, AZ-based distributor members of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, this was the second year the industry has reunited prior to the season.

WASHINGTON " More than 50 groups rallied on Capitol Hill, along with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, to urge approval of the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic, known as CAFTA-DR, as Congress began hearings on the controversial trade pact.

Now in its eighth year, the merchandising and promotion program for Sonora Spring Grapes has been highly successful, resulting in broader acceptance of Mexican-grown grapes by U.S. retailers, according to Veronica Kraushaar, president of Vanguard Marketing Strategies.

Those programs, which initially focused on major chains, are now being expanded to regional chains and even to smaller ethnic groups.

The 2005 California onion harvest is expected to kick off in the Imperial Valley in late April, a few days later than normal, with good quality but smaller sizes expected and volume lighter than usual due to weather.

A similar situation is anticipated later in the season as the onion harvest moves north into the central San Joaquin Valley.

With the addition of two new growers, The Oppenheimer Group is forecasting its longest and most strategic Mexican grape season to date.

This year marks the fifth season that Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer will represent grapes grown by the Platt Bros. in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. This year, Oppenheimer has added a second grower in that area, Vi?edo Monte Cristo, as well as Vi?edo Maribel in Caborca, a city located northwest of Hermosillo.