The California Avocado Commission has launched an exciting on-fruit branding program that will clearly identify California avocados as from California and provide close linkage to CAC’s marketing campaign. Several avocado handlers will be applying the new California avocado labels to their fruit this season.

“Our growing areas are highly diversified which enables us to offer a diverse menu of specialty products to our customers,” said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL. “We believe that it’s important to work from the ground up, and as a grower, importer, processor and shipper of specialty products we can bring these high quality items to our customers year-round.”

“Babé Farms grows a year-round variety of specialty vegetables including a spectrum of baby carrots, beets, specialty radishes, baby cauliflower, Romanesco, organic kales, specialty salads and a variety of specialty root vegetables,” said Ande Manos, marketing and new business development director for the Santa Maria, CA-based grower and shipper.

Allegiance Retail Services LLC, a retailer-owned cooperative that provides marketing, advertising, technological and operational support as well as a full line of "Foodtown" private-label products, has announced the election of its board of managers at the company’s annual membership meeting, which was held at the Allegiance Headquarters facility, in Iselin, NJ, on March 18.

Elected to the Allegiance board of managers were Nicholas D’Agostino III, John Estevez, Christopher Evans, Daniel Katz, David Maniaci, Esmail Mobarak, Louis Scaduto Jr., John Shakoor and Michael Stolarz.

Atlas Produce & Distribution Inc., a grower-shipper of California-grown premium dates, is excited to continue to offer fruit certified Kosher for Passover.

"All our dates are Kosher year-round, but we take it a step further this time of year with Kosher for Passover certification," Robert Dobrzanski, president of Atlas Produce, said in a press release. "The fact that our Medjools are Kosher for Passover certified give consumers a sweet healthy treat to enjoy."

This year Passover takes place April 14-22.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly forecast of the 2013-14 Florida orange crop decreased to 110 million boxes, a drop from the previous projection of 114 million. The drop can be attributed to a reduction in Valencias — from 61 million boxes to 57 million.