The annual Sonora Grape Summit is scheduled to be held April 28-29 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The event will be hosted by the Asociation Agricola Local de Productores Uva de Mesa, the local association of table grape growers in Sonora, commonly known by its Spanish acronym, AALPUM.

Although the United States is the largest receiver of Chilean fresh fruit exports, there is still room to grow. Tom Tjerandsen, managing director for North America for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association in Sonoma, CA, said this is good news for domestic retailers.

The arrival of a new leader at the helm of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association does not mean there will be sudden changes.

Mann Packing is supporting its sales program with multiple promotions the next three months.

Starting in mid-April, Mann, based in Salinas, CA, will place instant redeemable coupons on 100,000 packages of eight-ounce stringless sugar snap peas and 12-ounce green beans. The offer is good for $1 savings for any two packages of the Mann's products purchased. This annual promotion is historically a success nationwide; the 2010 redemption rate was 18 percent.

With the major competition season right around the corner, the U.S. Women's National Water Polo team is gearing up for two exhibition matches against tough European competitors. And among their secret weapons will be fresh apples and pears from Stemilt Growers.

A freeze in Mexico in early February caused some damage to early grape varieties in some areas of Sonora, particularly in some of the earlier vineyards in the Hermosillo area. Most affected were Perlettes and early Flames, according to shippers and distributors in Nogales, AZ.