Fruit Royale Inc. in Delano, CA, has increased several grape varieties this year, mostly for the latter part of the deal, according to Louie Galvan, a partner in the company.

The harvest in the San Joaquin Valley got off to an early start for Fruit Royale this year. “We are exactly 14 days ahead of where we were last year,” Galvan told The Produce News. “Currently we are harvesting Flames and Summer Royals and we are going to start Princess by the end of the week and Red Globes the next week.”

Western Fumigation, headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, has long been a supporter of the health and vibrancy of the ports of the Delaware River and communities in which business is conducted. “As the largest company in the fumigation business, Western has a sense of commitment and social responsibility,” said Business Development Manager Miriam Borja-Fisher, who is also the company’s marketing expert. “Supporting the Delaware River community has been a consistent part of Western’s business philosophy since its inception.

A chefs panel made up of three representatives from the volume feed sector of foodservice discussed how produce suppliers can make their jobs easier at the Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference in Monterey, July 26-28.

Thousands of students in 27 schools in four states will have more opportunities to eat fresh fruits and vegetables each day when they return to school this fall, where they will find brand new salad bars in their school cafeterias.

The salad bars are being donated by Produce Marketing Association as part of its support for First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let's Move! campaign and the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative.

Publix Super Markets and the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars announced a five-year partnership in which Publix becomes the “Official Supermarket of the Jaguars.”

To kick off the partnership, Jaguars and Publix executives made a joint announcement at EverBank Field prior to the team’s second day of training camp. Following the team’s practice, the first 750 fans in attendance received an invitation for a complimentary tailgate party hosted by Publix.

Interfresh Inc., a national supplier of fruits and vegetables based in Orange, CA, announced that it has opened a new sales office in Los Angeles that will be headed by Brian Campos and Yadira Gonzales.

In addition to running the new location, Campos and Gonzales will be responsible for expanding the company’s melon business.