WASHINGTON -- Some $49 million was doled out last month for specialty crop block grants, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon be inviting applications for fiscal 2010 grants aimed at boosting the competitiveness of specialty crops.

States are rolling out the farm bill money to fund projects to support specialty crops: fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts and nursery crops.

Weather-related tomato shortages in some areas of North America, combined with seasons winding down or yet to start in others, have resulted in some of the higher tomato prices in history.

The buzz around the East Coast Nov. 18 was that bulk boxes of vine-ripened tomatoes were commanding $35-$40.

Jeff Ornstein, co-owner of Eli & Ali's in Brooklyn, NY, told The Produce News that prices spiked during the preceding couple of weeks due to shortages.

Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. in Kahului, HI, announced Nov. 3 its intention to restructure the business, ending 97 years of pineapple cultivation on the Valley Isle.

The company's two subsidiaries are the Maui Pineapple Co. Ltd., which grew Maui Gold pineapples on 2,000 acres, and the Kapalua Land Co. Ltd., which operated the Kapalua Resort in west Maui.

Litehouse Inc., headquartered in Sandpoint, ID, continues to innovate with a variety of value-added products. Paul Kusche, director of marketing and innovations, said that the firm's new cider showcases several of the premier apple varietals for which Washington is known.

"These are variety-specific blends," he said of the cider line. The program was initially launched as Washington Galas were coming into production during September. "Now we have a Honeycrisp blend, and then we will be going to a Fuji blend [in January]."

APTOS, CA -- The Chilean Avocado Importers Association celebrated the world of soccer Oct. 10 during its American Youth Soccer Association Night with Club Deportivo Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

PHILADELPHIA -- A longtime house on the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market, M&C Produce Co. Inc., closed its doors Nov. 6.

William Morgen, secretary-treasurer of the Philadelphia Produce Credit Bureau on the market, said that John Lerro, owner of M&C, "never mentioned to any of us on the market that he would be closing his doors. And he never mentioned it to the credit bureau." Mr. Morgen has learned that Mr. Lerro "has employed an attorney to work out a payout arrangement with all of his creditors," though he did not know the name of the attorney.