The 2006-07 tomato season was the last for Big Red Tomato Packers LLC.

The Ft. Pierce, FL-based grower-shipper, one of the larger tomato operations on the state's east coast, closed its doors in June after 30 years in business, said David Neill, Big Red Tomato Packers' managing partner.

Honeycrisp apples from Michigan are about to hit store shelves, according to the Michigan Apple Committee. Consumers can expect to see the Honeycrisp in supermarkets and farm markets soon.

Some growers have already started to harvest the Honeycrisp, about two weeks earlier than originally anticipated, Denise Yockey, the committee's executive director, said in a press release.

Seald Sweet International LLC, a leading citrus marketer based in Vero Beach, FL, announced several high-level executive changes, including the appointment of the first female chief executive officer in its 98-year history.

Mayda Sotomayor, who previously held the title of senior vice president, is now chief executive officer. Ms. Sotomayor was promoted to senior vice president of Seald Sweet in 2004, having been the company's director of import sales since 2000. For 11 years prior to that, she developed the import program of Great American Farms in Pompano Beach, FL.

Bill Brewer, executive director of the Oregon Potato Commission, said that potato growers are looking for a return to normal production in 2007. "So far, we're happy with the quality," Mr. Brewer told The Produce News. "Potato growers are pretty happy with their crops at this time."

In 2006, Oregon potato growers experienced a weather rollercoaster. Planting was delayed during a wet, cool spring. Temperatures then began to climb before a second cooling trend set in. In July, the mercury shot up.

The Washington Apple Commission is expecting the 2007-08 apple crop to be down approximately 3 percent when compared to 2006-07, which is expected to finish around 98.9 million boxes.

Nearly three years ago, a study conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles and published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that "nutrients in avocados can work together to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells."