HerbThyme Farms, headquartered in Compton, CA, will vigorously fight a class action lawsuit that was recently filed in California by attorney Raymond Boucher alleging mislabeling of organic products from at least one of its facilities.

The firm was first notified of the suit in late April, and it quickly released a statement briefly explaining the origin of the charges and vowing to "defend our products and reputation vigorously."

The first exports of New Zealand's pipfruit and kiwifruit began arriving in North America in May.

Peter Beaven, chief executive officer of Pipfruit New Zealand, said that pipfruit exports are expected to be down approximately 14 percent compared to 2009. "We expect the total export crop to be around 265,000 tons compared with 307,000 last year," he told The Produce News in late April.

IDAHO FALLS, ID -- The Idaho Grower Shipper Association, the trade organization representing shippers in the Idaho potato industry, is joining with CHEP, the global leader in pallet and container pooling solutions, to support the group's educational activities. In return, the association will promote the benefits of CHEP pallet pooling to its many members.

LOS ANGELES -- Giumarra Reedley announced May 12 the unveiling of its new, state-of-the-art packingline in conjunction with the beginning of its 2010 stone fruit season.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement April 8 confirmed the finding of black spot fungus (Guignardia citricarpa) in a commercial citrus grove in Immokalee, FL. As of May 10, 11 cases of the disease had been confirmed.

Considered an exotic disease, black spot symptoms include dark, speckled spots or blotches on the rinds of citrus fruits. It is an economically significant citrus disease in that it causes early fruit drop, reduces crop yield and renders the highly blemished fruit unmarketable in the fresh market.

Bradner (Brad) Cameron, age 52 and a night salesperson for D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York Inc., based at the New York City Hunts Point Terminal Market, died April 30 in a car accident.

Matthew D'Arrigo, vice president of the firm, said that Mr. Cameron was an innocent victim when his car was broadsided by another driver while Mr. Cameron was driving near his home in Shelton, CT. He was on his way to work around 2 a.m. when the accident occurred.