New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine has proposed a state budget that would cut spending by $500 million, reduce the workforce by about 3,000 people and close three departments, including the one that is most visible to the fresh produce industry: the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

The governor, who outlined his proposals in a speech to the New Jersey Legislature Tuesday, Feb. 26, also proposed closing the state departments of Commerce and Personnel, as well as cutting expenses for services such as hospitals and colleges.

Produce industry veteran James (Jimmy) Burnette has joined the sales team at JC Tropicals in Homestead, FL, bringing 30 years of experience to the grower-shipper-wholesaler. Mr. Burnette, who officially came on board Feb. 22, will head the company's mango department.

ORLANDO, FL -- More people than ever before attended the Southeast Produce Council's fifth annual conference and expo, smashing the previous mark by perhaps 200 or more, according to SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees.

The exact numbers are not complete, but "at least 800 people" and perhaps as many as 900 attended the conference, dubbed Southern Exposure 2008, which took place Feb. 21-23, here, according to Mr. Vorhees.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a lowered grade standard for fresh table grapes.

The proposal was announced Feb. 26 in the Federal Register as the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service sought changes requested by the Fresno- based California Grape & Tree Fruit League to revise the tolerances to include an allowance for shattered berries. This proposal is offered due to the change of pack style from mostly plain pack to consumer-size units.

There is a 30-day comment period on these changes, with comments on the changes due to AMS by March 27.

Mann Packing Co., based in Salinas, CA, is gearing up to Swing Into Spring with a new on-pack offer promotion.

Starting March 10, Mann will place instant redeemable coupons on 250,000 packages of its eight-ounce sugar snap peas and gourmet snow peas. This is one of five on-pack offers Mann is planning in 2008 to encourage trial and build sales of its cut-vegetable products.

ORANGE BEACH, AL -- Southern hospitality was in abundant supply for the 420 attendees of the National Watermelon Association's 94th annual convention, who were treated to a "slice of paradise" Feb. 20-24, here, at the Perdido Beach Resort.

The association and the National Watermelon Promotion Board both unveiled several new initiatives during the convention, the most notable of which was a congressional resolution proclaiming July as National Watermelon Month.