BONITA SPRINGS, FL -- Promising to rob Peter to pay Paul if necessary, the Florida Citrus Commission voted June 9 to add an additional $2.8 million to the Florida Department of Citrus' 2010-11 budget to cover a shortfall created by recent vetoes of legislation that would have increased funding for citrus disease research.

The proposed budget was $53.8 million, down $3.1 million from FY 2009- 10; the approved amended total for FY 2010-11 stands at $56.6 million.

Hundreds of growers, shippers and representatives from allied industries will gather June 9-11 in Bonita Springs, FL, for the Florida Citrus Industry annual conference at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort.

At this time last year, the industry had just heard good news about citrus canker, a virulent blemish that had hampered interstate trade for years. That was countered by reports of a growing threat -- huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease -- and this year HLB will be at the fore of the conference, said Florida Citrus Mutual spokesperson Andrew Meadows.

Peri & Sons Farms, based in Yerington, NV, has added a fun twist to this year's spring onion harvest with the OnionXpress incentive program and contest for its customers.

Among the incentives is an all-expense-paid trip to tour Peri & Sons Farms in Nevada during the fall harvest.

The National Mango Board has developed an easy, hand-held guide to help warehouse receivers at the retail level differentiate mango ripeness levels.

"Making sure the mangos on retailers' shelves are the highest-possible quality is easier than ever with the new Mango Maturity & Ripeness Guide," NMB Executive Director William Watson wrote in an open letter to the trade. He said that the new tool was developed specifically to "educate retail receiving personnel to help ensure that consumers are offered the best selection of quality mangos."

Dolores Elaine Bellusci, a member of the produce industry for more than 45 years, died May 27 at her home in Vineland, NJ, surrounded by her family. Ms. Bellusci had suffered from lung cancer for two years, according to her daughter, Debbie Lazareff.

Ms. Bellusci was born Dec. 27, 1929, in Vineland -- the heart of the state's produce area. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Vineland in 1946, and then attended Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.

It is a foregone conclusion that Walgreens will increase its food offerings, including some fresh produce, but when and where hasn't been determined yet, according to company spokesperson Tiffani Washington.

Ms. Washington said that Director of Fresh Foods Jim Jensen and Vice President of Merchandising Bryan Pugh, both of whom are stationed in the large retailer’s Deerfield, IL, headquarters, are in charge of the project.