The California Cherry Advisory Board, which was established in 1993 primarily to apply for federal Market Access Program funds and to promote California Bing and Rainier cherries in Japan, is undergoing a major transformation that involves expansion, in that it brings producers of other California cherry varieties into the organization, but also is a contraction, in that the board will be narrowing the focus of its activities.

Nov. 14 was Michael Hively’s last day with Bland Farms LLC. “It was an amicable split,” Mr. Hively told The Produce News.

He joined the company in January 2002 as general manager, “and then he evolved into [chief operating officer] and [chief financial officer] for several years. He ran the operations and took care of the money, too,” said Delbert Bland, owner and president of Bland Farms.

Wish Farms, a leading grower-shipper of strawberries in Florida, announced Nov. 16 the kick off of its Florida strawberry season, projected to be the biggest to date. With a larger supply of both conventional and organic berries, the first fruit is being harvested from 150 acres and will be available at most major local grocery store chains.

A hotter-than-usual October, followed by an early cold snap in November, has led to a fairly hot lettuce market on the early end of the California and Arizona winter vegetable deal.

The United Fresh Produce Association will honor the achievements and celebrate the career of industry icon Reggie Griffin with a special golf tournament and dinner, to be held Monday, Jan. 23 in San Diego.

Phil Neary has left produce distributor Sunny Valley International to join paper and packaging company Pratt Industries.