If one were to ask the average grocery store shopper for his or her opinions about watermelon, the answer would probably relate to it being a tasty summertime treat.

The Sundia Corp. aims to capitalize on what it sees as a juicy opportunity to change consumers' ideas about watermelons.

As days passed following Hurricane Wilma's sweep through south Florida on Oct. 24, it became increasingly apparent that the damage was much worse than initially thought. For some growers, it caused a total loss of crops, and many are still assessing the damage a week later.

FRESNO, CA -- As of Oct. 26, it had been five weeks since the official start of autumn. The frost is already on the pumpkins, so to speak, across much of the United States.

But in California, one of the favorite produce items of summer -- California fresh grapes -- is still being picked, packed and shipped in abundance and variety.

California grapes will, in fact, continue to be available throughout the remainder of the fall season and into early winter.

Grant Oswalt, a produce industry veteran with over 20 years experience, has joined the sales staff at Coastline Produce in Salinas, CA. He will focus on the company's broccoli and cauliflower accounts.

Mr. Oswalt comes to Coastline from produce broker Fresh Network in Salinas. After a career mostly in the shipping side of the business, including a stint as sales manager for Duda's California operations, Mr. Oswalt said that he has "dipped his toe in the brokerage waters, but now I'm back to my roots.

In early October, The Oppenheimer Group welcomed Barry Parisotto to its Los Angeles sales team. He fills the newly created position of organics category manager for the Vancouver, BC-based marketer. And, sales representative Josh Leichter was promoted to become Oppenheimer's director of sales-East Coast, another new position.

"Expanding our organic product line has been part of our strategic vision for a long time," John Anderson, Oppenheimer's president, chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "Barry's expertise can help take us to the next level."