The Food & Drug Administration has launched an investigation into Fairview, OR-based Townsend Farms after a rarely-seen strain of hepatitis A has caused 30 illnesses and preliminary epidemiological studies are pointing the finger at the Townsend Farms Organic Anti-oxidant Blend frozen berry mix.

As of May 31, 30 people in five western states have become ill with hepatitis A, and 11 of the 17 people interviewed by health officials reported eating the frozen berry and pomegranate seed mix purchased from Costco, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Professional athletes have long known the super-powering properties of potatoes, but thanks to growers, shippers and volunteers in Colorado's San Luis Valley, thousands of hardy bicyclists are also in the spud nutritional loop.

SAN DIEGO — A clear majority of 10 supermarket produce managers participating at a workshop during the recent United Fresh Produce Association convention claimed to have quite a bit of autonomy when it comes to building displays, featuring local product and sampling product for customers.

The group was representing mostly smaller chains and they were in attendance because they were being honored as being outstanding managers.

While many Georgia watermelon growers were surprised by May rains that have delayed the deal until mid-June, Tom Glenos of Kid’s Choice Fresh Produce Inc. in Weston, FL, which grows and ships watermelon from several locations in Florida, Georgia, Arkansas and Michigan, pegged the state’s late start from the beginning.

While some Georgia growers are grappling with field conditions that have made harvesting nearly impossible, Glenos always planned to start his Peach State deal in the middle of the month.

Porterville, CA-based Homegrown Organic Farms announced the hire of BRIAN GUESS as regional grower and operations manager in Southern California.

Guess is a recent graduate of California State University-Fresno with a degree in agricultural business. Prior to joining Homegrown Organic Farms, he worked for Baloian Farms as a quality control manager, and most recently as vendor development manager for SoFresh Produce.

Sage Fruit. Co., headquartered in Yakima, WA, expects to have a highly promotable cherry crop from the Pacific Northwest in 2013. “Our cherry acreage has increased compared to last season,” President Chuck Sinks told The Produce News. “We have added more tonnage in our later districts. Sage Fruit continues to grow our cherry tonnage each season.”