The berry patch is led by strawberries first and foremost, followed by blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. But raspberries are more than holding their own.

Nishan Moutafian, raspberry and blackberry business manager for Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc., told The Produce News that the quality of Driscoll's raspberries is improving continually. The company's raspberries all are proprietary varieties.

The first-ever U.S. watermelon promotion in Japan will take place this August.

Gordon Hunt, director of marketing for the Orlando, FL-based National Watermelon Promotion Board, arranged the promotion. Mr. Hunt is fluent in Japanese and long ago, in another position, helped the Florida Department of Citrus open the Japanese market to Florida citrus.

If you're not in business to make a profit, then why are you in it at all?

Every company wants to make money. This past year has seen the recession eating away at profits and companies struggling to make ends meet. When profits fail to increase, they drag down growth, which isn't very healthy for the future of any establishment.

Growers of California stone fruit, including white-flesh peaches and nectarines, have suffered hard times in recent years as production costs continue to rise and market prices have stagnated or declined.

The fallout has been significant, as several major growers, shippers and packers, some of which have been in business for generations, have downsized, restructured, sold off assets, or simply closed their doors. There is a widespread consensus in the stone fruit industry that there will be still more fallout in the weeks and months ahead.

Flavian Basciani, a mushroom industry pioneer who was a founder of Basciani Mushroom Farms in Avondale, PA, died May 11 at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE. He was 82 years old and had resided in Kennett Square, PA, which is adjacent to Avondale.

Mr. Basciani served in the U.S. military in Italy during World War II before returning home to start Basciani Mushroom Farms with his brothers Emidio Basciani Jr. and Mario (Chuff) Basciani, according to Michael Basciani, vice president of the firm, who is Mario Basciani's son.

Three research studies released in recent weeks by the Mushroom Council indicate means by which retailers can increase sales and profits.

On the sales side, according to Informational Resources Inc., fresh mushroom sales increased in both dollars (4.5 percent) and pounds (1.5 percent) over last year.