VANCOUVER, BC -- For the first time ever, imported fresh blueberries will come to market in the "Ocean Spray" label this fall.

Ocean Spray in Lakeville, MA, and its marketing partner, The Oppenheimer Group, will offer fresh blueberries from Argentina beginning in mid-October, followed by fruit from Chile in mid-December. The berries will be available through early March.

Railex LLC has added a second train from Washington state, bringing to four its total refrigerated, temperature-controlled unit trains that depart the West Coast and terminate on the East Coast at its facility in Rotterdam, NY, each week.

The firm, a division of Riverhead, NY-based ADS Management, has restarted its second weekly unit train from its Wallula, WA, freight-forward distribution terminal and has two additional trains that depart from its terminal in Delano, CA, which recently celebrated its first anniversary in operation.

ANAHEIM, CA -- A panel of experts discussed the industry-wide Produce Traceability Initiative and made one thing crystal clear: Having a traceability plan is not an option, it is a requirement.

ANAHEIM, CA -- The mood of members of the garlic trade was upbeat during the annual garlic industry breakfast, held Oct. 3 at the Hilton Anaheim, here, and sponsored by Christopher Ranch and Empacadora GAB.

Jeff Stokes of Christopher Ranch said that the firm was seeing increased volume from retailers but not from foodservice providers. However, he said that when the economy improves, that would change and foodservice sales would increase.

ANAHEIM, CA -- Becoming a more environmentally friendly firm basically involves a more efficient use of resources, which in turn results in significant cost savings.

That was the view of a group of panelists who discussed "Finding the ROI of Sustainability" during a workshop session Oct. 4 at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit International Convention and Exposition, held here Oct. 2-5.

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement presented produce buyer Tim York with its Golden Checkmark Award for his role in initiating a companywide policy at Markon Cooperative Inc. to accept the LGMA mandatory government inspection as the only required audit for its leafy greens suppliers.