SALINAS, CA -- The sound of the auctioneer's gavel was music to the ears of some aspiring college students at the Florida Strawberry Growers Association's 28th annual Strawberry Jam awards banquet.

The event took place Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Red Rose Inn in Plant City, FL. The evening was dedicated to honoring Florida's best strawberry growers and presenting special scholarships to deserving students.

TAMPA, FL -- A hard freeze watch remained in effect for much of Florida through Thursday morning, Dec. 9, as the state's growers battled an unwelcome early arctic blast that shattered low-temperature records from Tampa Bay to Ft. Lauderdale.

Citrus and strawberries made it through two nights of sub-freezing weather in good shape, but vegetables and tomatoes are already showing signs of damage.

By the third week of December, Central American melons will be plentiful enough to have good promotional opportunities for retailers, according to Mike Shields, director of new business development for Central American Produce Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL.

Mr. Shields said that the Guatemalan melon crop that is beginning the season is "excellent, and everyone we have shipped to has had nothing but rave reviews."

Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms is completing the expansion of its Baja Mist production facility in order to increase its Mexico-grown product offerings. The facility is located in Mexico's Mexicali Valley.

When completed in January, the plant will have double its previous capacity for processing and shipping "Ocean Mist" iceless green onions, Brussels sprouts, leeks and radishes, with room to add other items in the future.

Peter (Pete) Galvan, a sales representative at Hronis Inc. in Delano, CA, died Nov. 4 following a short illness. More than 300 family members and friends attended his services in Bakersfield, CA, to pay their respects and tributes to a man with a distinguished career in produce. He was 69.

Monte Vista, CO-based Farm Fresh Direct, a leading provider of premium potatoes, onions and sweet potatoes, has hired Dave Yeager as its new vice president of business development. As Farm Fresh Direct continues to experience sales growth, Mr. Yeager will be responsible for directing all new business development activities for the company.