Joe Swick, senior market manager for the Pompano State Farmers Market in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News that the market is in the process of moving into a new era with a fresh mentality.

"We are dealing with major issues today in ways that will better serve the community and the environment," said Mr. Swick. "As our tenants have also evolved over the years to be more community minded and environmentally aware, we are working together to make the market an ideal place to work and to serve."

Homegrown Organic Farms, an organic fresh produce marketing company based in Porterville, CA, that represents over 3,500 acres of organic produce, has positioned itself for future growth with the purchase of a new facility in Kingsburg, CA, where it will consolidate all shipping and packing operations for fruit originating in the San Joaquin Valley.

“We are definitely growing” in avocado sales, said Rob Wedin, vice president of fresh sales and marketing at Calavo Growers Inc. in Santa Paula, CA. “We are combining our focus on sales of avocados from Mexico and California avocados, and both sources have a good crop. Both sources have a larger crop than they have had for some time.”

Wish Farms President Gary Wishnatzki has been a leader in establishing the Florida blueberry industry, and he sees it continuing to mature and grow.

Mr. Wishnatzki is the third-generation leader of a family business that was around as Florida’s strawberry business began to boom and mature in the 1930s. He believes blueberries are following that same curve.

Tim O’Connor, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Potato Board in Denver,  has accepted an offer to lead a marketing agency dedicated to the Mexican avocado industry, formed jointly by the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association and the Association of Mexican Avocado Producers & Packers.

WASHINGTON — The produce industry is losing a top supporter at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Kathleen Merrigan announced she is resigning as deputy secretary.

A vocal champion of the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, Ms. Merrigan is best known for advocating USDA programs that support local and regional farmers, though she had a hand in many programs throughout her tenure. As deputy secretary, she oversees the day-to-day operation of USDA and spearheads the $149 billion USDA budget process.