Chiquita Brands International launched its new blend of artisanal packaged salads on a nationwide basis. The salads bring the taste of the four seasons with ingredients cultivated by artisanal growers and picked throughout the year for optimal freshness and taste. "The new Fresh Express artisanal salad line is the most recent example of our commitment to meeting consumer demand for a delicious and unique salad eating experience," Brian Kocher, president of Chiquita North America, said in an Aug. 10 press release announcing the release of the line.

Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc., a leading provider of fresh berries based in Watsonville, CA, unveiled a new logo and label design that will be used throughout all areas of sales and marketing.

The new look will begin to hit the U.S. market within the next few weeks.

Walter Mills Tindell, who for some 14 years presided over Blue Anchor, an agricultural packing and marketing cooperative that was long a dominant force in the California fruit industry, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, in Sacramento, after a prolonged illness. He was 81.

Mr. Tindell was born May 25, 1929, in Lodi, CA, graduated from Lodi High School attended the University of California-Berkeley, where he met Barbara Green who would become his wife of 59 years.

California had a small Hass avocado crop last year and finished shipping in August. This year, the state has a large crop which, for a variety of reasons, got off to a slow start and as of late July was at peak volume with still roughly 40 percent of the harvest to go. Volume was expected to continue strong into October, with some shipments extending into November.

Turbulent weather in the Pacific Northwest is expected to delay the 2010 potato production season. But industry officials have indicated that the crop will be characterized by good quality and volumes. Spring conditions during the planting season were unusually cool and wet in the region.

The California apple industry is anticipating an excellent year with its 2010 crop. "We're just really excited about the quality," said Alexander Ott, executive director of the California Apple Commission. “We are expecting a good-sized, quality crop.”

The news is especially important since 2009 did not represent one of the state’s better crop years. “Compared to last year, 2010 will be really good,” Mr. Ott said.