Texas seems primed for a terrific citrus season. Sets are good, the start should be early and timely rains promise larger fruit than last year. Hot days promise sweet fruit and cooler nights are bringing on good color. Aside from a trio of hailstorms in May, milder weather means the crop will be more cosmetically appealing than usual.

But lurking in the background is the specter of HLB — citrus greening disease — which was discovered in Texas in January.

Turbana, a well-known banana importer based in Coral Gables, FL, announced the launch of its tropicals line for North America. The line offers 11 products including yucca, chayote, yellow yams, malanga, coco and aloe vera.

As a successful National Mushroom Month winds down, the Mushroom Council gears up for the Pink campaign. Each year, the mushroom industry “goes pink” in continued support of breast cancer research at City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading cancer research institutions.

Idaho Falls, ID-based Kingston & Associates Marketing announced the promotion of TOYE CAWLEY to its sales team. Ms. Cawley first began working for Kingston in May as a customer service representative, where she quickly adapted and excelled in the position, according to a company press release.

The thousands of acres of south Texas citrus grown by the member-owners of the Edinburg Citrus Association are set and ready for a banner season if not a bumper crop. The fruit is in excellent shape and with a little rainfall should continue to size up as the season gets underway.

“The market is ready. We are getting calls every day from customers ready for our fruit,” Sales Manager Ruben Shives said in late September. “We are checking the fruit daily as there is a strong demand for Texas red grapefruit and oranges.”

At the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit convention in Anaheim, CA, Duda Farm Fresh Foods will introduce its new line of seasonal packaging, Celery Celebrations, in time for the busy holiday cooking season.