CIUDAD OBREGON, SONORA, MEXICO - Representatives from some of the top U.S. and Canadian produce organizations discussed the challenges they encounter while conducting business in the North American produce trade during a panel discussion held here as part of the recent trade symposium, Agriculture in Sonora, A Business Opportunity.

The Diamond State Port Corp. and Pacific Delaware Inc. have signed a new five-year agreement with a two-year extension option for the storage and distribution of Chilean fruit imports through the port of Wilmington, DE.

David Puglia has joined the Western Growers Association government relations team as vice president of state government affairs.

Most recently, Mr. Puglia was a vice president at APCO Worldwide, a leading issues-management and media-relations consulting firm. His expertise and professionalism are widely known and respected in the offices of the state capital.

OAKLAND, CA - An overflow crowd teeming with retailers packed the Oakland Hilton Tuesday, April 27, here, for a Northern California luncheon meeting of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council.

With featured speaker Ronnie de la Cruz of the Produce Marketing Association discussing how retailers can utilize their in-store staff to sell more produce, the meeting was packed with representatives from Safeway, Albertson's, Save Mart, Raley's and other Northern California-based companies.

WASHINGTON - Sprouts continue to cause foodborne illnesses, despite the fact that the Food & Drug Administration released safety guidelines for the industry six years ago. Now FDA is holding a public meeting next month to start the process of writing mandatory regulations to stem the number of sprout-related outbreaks.

Kelsi Farms Inc. in Visalia, CA, a produce marketing company formed about six months ago, will be handling the sales of a line of organic vegetables and melons from Double D Farms in Coalinga, CA, according to Robert Faulkner, Kelsi's founder.