Melon quality was very high and the market strong as Guatemala's melon deal commenced in late November.

Louis Kertesz, vice president of Fresh Quest Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL, said Nov. 29 that his firm received the season’s first Central American melons Nov. 19.

"The quality right out of the gate was, on a scale of one to 10, a nine-plus. We have great sugars."

Having spent 13 years with Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., in early November, Mike Shields rejoined the staff at Pompano Beach, FL-based Central American Produce Inc. as director of new business development.

Is local sourcing a fad in the produce industry or an emerging trend that heralds a new era in the way Americans approach fresh fruits and vegetables?

Houston-based FreshPoint Inc. is betting on the latter. Its just launched "Eat Florida Fresh" program and web site are the first in a series that will help introduce customers to the farmers who grow their food.

A subsidiary of the Sysco Corp., FreshPoint is one of the nation's larger distributors of fresh produce, with 31 locations nationwide catering primarily to the foodservice industry.

Upgrades will double previous capacity

Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms is completing the expansion of its Baja Mist production facility in order to increase its Mexico-grown product offerings. The facility is located in Mexico's Mexicali Valley.

When completed in January, the plant will have double its previous capacity for processing and shipping "Ocean Mist" iceless green onions, Brussels sprouts, leeks and radishes, with room to add other items in the future.

Brian Silvas has joined Bland Farms LLC as West Coast sales manager. To meet Bland Farms' growing demand for sweet onions in the West, Mr. Silvas will maintain customer relationships and develop category and product growth.