Produce companies that lost sales because of Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs should mark May 13 on their calendar: It’s the deadline for sending comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation on a long-awaited proposal to restart its cross-border trucking pilot program.

On April 13, the DOT published details of a proposed three-year cross-border trucking program that comes after President Obama and Mexico President Felipe Calderon announced an agreement in early March.

MONTREAL — Tanimura & Antle is looking to capitalize on its recent successful campaigns with its new “Celebrate Summer” promotion for its Artisan Lettuce line.

MONTREAL — New Zealand pipfruit grower Enza is ramping up commercial volumes of its Envy apple variety, and its North American marketer believes that it has the potential to be an unequivocal success in the marketplace.

MONTREAL — While the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s 86th annual convention and trade show, held here April 13-15, set records for attendance and exhibits, the show likely will be best remembered as the last hurrah for Danny Dempster, who is retiring after a career with the organization that stretches back to 1977.

Mr. Dempster, who has served as president of CPMA since 1983, was warmly recognized at virtually every turn of the convention.

This year’s New England Produce & Floral Council Expo, being held April 27 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, is similar in format and schedule to previous expos, but a few new features have been added.

One thing about cherries that virtually everyone seems to agree on — and a reality that is frequently mentioned by shippers during interviews — is the volatility of the crop, largely due to its sensitivity to weather. A late frost, an untimely hailstorm or rain at harvest time can unexpectedly reduce what might otherwise be a full crop.