The year 2008 has been one of leadership change in North America. Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) both campaigned on platforms of change during the U.S. presidential race and Mr. Obama was victorious because of it.

The Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp. has also seen changes to its leadership on its board of directors from all three member nations (the United States, Canada and Mexico), including the first woman to join the board.

A nationwide crop production report released Oct. 10 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated California's orange production to be 44 million boxes (1.65 million tons) for 2008-09, down 32 percent from 2007-08 final numbers and 4 percent below the 2006-07 crop.

California's Navel oranges for 2008-09 are estimated at 32 million boxes (1.2 million tons), down 34 percent from 2007-08 and down 7 percent from 2006-07.

SunnyRidge Farm Inc., a grower, packer and shipper of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries based in Winter Haven, FL, has announced that it is adding strawberries to its line for the 2008-09 season.

The company is a family-owned-and-operated grower, packer and shipper of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. It has purchased land to develop new strawberry farms, and also purchased some acreage that was already producing strawberries, both in Dover, FL, near Plant City. It will produce a total 150 acres in the coming season.

Del Campo Supreme has joined a growing number of firms in the industry to utilize "HarvestMark" from YottaMark Inc. to reinforce food safety and deliver on-demand traceability to buyers and consumers.

ORLANDO, FL -- Olivia's Organics, a prepackaged organic salad line owned by State Garden Inc. in Chelsea, MA, made a strong promotional push at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit convention and expositon.

Olivia's Organics was launched in early 2006 by Mark DeMichaelis, who is a family owner of State Garden, which was founded in Boston's Faneuil Hall 70 years ago.

ORLANDO, FL -- Out of 23,000 acres of red potatoes grown in the Red River Valley this year, fewer than 200 acres were left in the field, according to Ted Kreis, marketing director for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association in Grand Forks, ND. He said that late-season rains south of Fargo kept the harvest from reaching 100 percent.

Mr. Kreis promoted Red River Valley potatoes at the PMA Fresh Summit with Greg Holtman, a salesman for Associated Potato Growers Inc. in Grand Forks, and T.J. Johnstone, vice president of sales of Tri-Campbell Farms in Grafton, ND.