FreshXperts, a leading consulting group for the fresh industry, unveiled eFreshTrack, a customer relationship management system designed specifically for growers, shippers and distributors. The system applies FreshXperts’ 171 years of combined produce-industry experience to the advanced technologies of CRM provider, Soleran.

The hosted application affords convenient access from any computer or smartphone and allows sales teams to track leads from the point of contact, through the sales process — and after the sale is complete.

WEATHER

Daytime temperatures in Salinas, CA, were expected to range from the upper 60s to low 70s Aug. 25-30 with overnight lows in the mid-50s. Patchy morning fog and sunny afternoons are expected to persist into early September.

Daytime temperatures in Mendota, CA, were predicted to be in the mid- to upper 90s Aug. 30, with overnight lows in the low to mid-60s.

DEMAND

An intensive review of the damage to Chilean summer citrus crops caused by recent frost shows that estimated losses range from little or no damage to this year's Clementines, to a maximum 10 percent loss of projected exports of Chilean Navel oranges and lemons, to a 10 percent loss of the season's Mandarin exports for 2011.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX -- Texans attending the annual Texas Produce Association convention here Aug. 17-19 were in for some pleasant surprises. Temperatures were a reasonable 90-91 degrees, a welcome break from the sweltering 100s the rest of the state has endured for the last month or more. Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples, campaigning for the office of lieutenant governor, stopped by for a visit and to deliver the keynote address. And at least 100 more attendees than were expected turned out for the event.

Nardelli Brothers Inc. in Cedarville, NJ, was spared serious damage by Hurricane Irene in late August.

“The good Lord has been good to us,” said Bill Nardelli, president of Nardelli Brothers. “We got some rain and 40- to 60-mile-per-hour winds, but the rain and wind didn’t coordinate so well as to cause a lot of damage. There will be a little loss on squashes and cucumbers, but our early assessments were pretty reassuring.

After farming for over 100 years, the company knows which areas to plant in during certain times of the year.

Dandrea Produce Inc. in Vineland, NJ, was in assessment mode over the damage caused by Hurricane Irene as of Aug. 30, according to Frank Dandrea, president of the company.

“Notably, we’ll have some damage on squashes, peppers and cucumbers,” he said. “A huge amount of water fell over the state, washing out row crops, roads and dams. It’s going to take some time to assess the total crop loss or damage.”