The Sayre fire in Sylmar in Los Angeles County that began Friday, Nov. 14 destroyed a satellite office of the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner's office.

The county's pest management offices (trailers) there that housed activity for pest detection, pest exclusion, produce quality and pesticide regulation were destroyed, and a pesticide storage shed was gutted, according to Ken Pellman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner's office.

Texas Citrus Mutual, a non-profit trade association established in 1958 to represent the interests of Texas citrus growers, celebrated its golden anniversary with a gala event Nov. 15 at the John H. Shary mansion in Mission, TX.

Bland Farms has opened a new facility in Donna, TX, that will enhance the Glennville, GA-based company's ability to service its customers.

"The doors of our new Donna, Texas, facility opened the last week of October, and the first product moved through it on Friday, October 31," Michael Hively, chief financial officer and general manager of Bland Farms, told The Produce News.

WASHINGTON -- With the produce industry still recovering from the summer-long Salmonella outbreak, top leaders of the Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association sat down with federal food-safety officials to come up with a plan to improve the outbreak response and communication system.

The National Mango Board recently launched the on-line interactive game Jango Geography to educate children about mangos and the countries from which they originate.

Additionally, children will learn about the flavor and health benefits of mangos with the ultimate goal of increasing mango consumption.

The Washington Apple Commission, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, is working to appoint a new president in January. This past September, former President David Carlson was placed on administrative leave, and Ken Severn was appointed interim president of the organization.

According to Robin Mooney, WAC vice president and operations director, the position has been advertised in industry publications, websites and general circulation newspapers. "We have it out there," she told The Produce News in October.