A California Court of Appeals reversed an earlier Superior Court decision thereby abandoning a $12 million judgment that Fresh Express Inc. had received against an insurance carrier to recover losses resulting from the 2006 E. coli outbreak associated with fresh spinach.

A three-judge panel ruled Sept. 8 that the Monterey County Superior Court had erred in interpreting the recall insurance policy that Salinas, CA-based Fresh Express had in place at the time with Lloyds of London.

Joe Tamble

Sun-Maid Growers of California, a cooperative owned by nearly 1,000 family raisin grape growers

WEATHER

Daytime temperatures in Salinas, CA, remained in the low 60s through Sept. 16 then were expected to rise into the low 70s by early the following week. Overnight lows should range in the low to mid-50s. Patchy morning fog and sunny afternoons should continue through Sept. 20.

In Mendota, CA, daytime temperatures were forecast to drop briefly into the low 80s Sept. 16-18 before returning to the low 90s Sept. 19.

Overnight lows are dropping and should range in the upper 50s to 60.

TRANSPORTATION & FUEL

During a one-week period in April of this year, Californians purchased 1.6 percent fewer pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from supermarkets but paid 2.3 percent more dollars for it.

This was just one of the jewels excavated from a newly released market report conducted by the Fresh Produce & Floral Council.

Having completed a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion of its Mexican packing facility last year, Mission Produce Inc., based in Oxnard, CA, recently announced the completion of significant renovation and expansion projects at two of its U.S. ripening and distribution centers this year.

Longtime employee Fred Webber will become the new president and chief executive officer at the Canadian-based Dispute Resolution Corp. when Stephen Whitney, the current CEO, retires at the end of this year.

Mr. Whitney announced his pending retirement earlier this year, which led to an executive search process by a DRC committee.