In 2007, The Onion House in Weslaco, TX, invested in new packaging equipment to facilitate two-, three-, five- and 10-pound consumer packs of the famed Texas sweet onion.

"But we ended up shipping very few bags last year," said Don Ed Holmes, president of the Rio Grande Valley growing, packing and shipping operation.

It is highly unlikely that 2008 will bring a change in the U.S. Department of Agriculture marketing order that would regulate what is essentially a cutoff date for some varieties of Chilean grapes.

A shakeup has occurred at Spreckels, CA-based Tanimura & Antle Inc. According to published reports, President Ken Silveira, Vice President Of Sales & Marketing Rick Bravo and Vice President Of Crop Management Rick Russo all are no longer with the company.

In addition, it has been reported that Bob Antle, a part owner of T&A, has stepped in as sales manager. The report also said that John Killeen, vice president of marketing and business development, and Steve Koran, director of western sales, still are with the company.

Index Fresh, based in Bloomington, CA, announced the appointment of John Dmytriw to the position of sales director.

"We welcome John to the team at Index Fresh. I am excited about the enthusiasm he brings to his role in our sales department," Dana Thomas, president of Index Fresh, said in a press release.

Mr. Dmytriw spent the last seven-and-a-half years at West Pak Avocado in Temecula. Prior to that, he worked for Buyproduce.com in Irvine, CA.

CHEP, a leader in pallet and container pooling, presented a $10,000 check to the National Watermelon Association during the awards banquet at the group's annual convention in Orange Beach, AL. The money will help fund research, lobbying and consumer promotion activities as well as ongoing operations at the NWA.

The donation is the result of a partnership between the two organizations that provides financial support for the association as more members use CHEP pallets to transport watermelons to retail.

Country Fresh Inc., a Houston-based manufacturer and distributor of fresh- cut produce and ready-to-eat meal solutions, announced the launch of the "Country Fresh Organic" line of whole and fresh-cut produce. More than 70 organic items are now processed through the company's six U.S. Department of Agriculture organic-certified facility locations.