Despite some problems, A.J. Trucco Inc., located on the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Market in the Bronx, NY, is promoting its Italian kiwifruit. “This has been a challenging season for the import industry,” Nick Pacia, vice president of A.J. Trucco, told The Produce News in late February. “Fuel prices are high and so transportation costs are rising, and that also applies to ocean shipping lines. These costs are at a higher level than we expected, and it makes it more challenging to import produce.”

ORLANDO, FL — The Southeast Produce Council's 10th annual Southern Exposure was termed hugely successful in all areas, from the golf tournament to the field tours, from the keynote address to the trade show. And the conference drew record attendance throughout the event, held Feb. 28 to March 2 at the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center, here.

Albertsons LLC, based in Boise, ID, has named Jerry Callahan vice president of produce merchandising. He will be responsible for continuing to grow sales and profits through fostering innovation in the category and assisting the divisions in providing the best-in-fresh quality produce and programs, the company announced in a Feb. 26 press release.

The U.S. Department of Commerce published the final version of a newly renegotiated antidumping investigation suspension agreement with producers and exporters of fresh tomatoes from Mexico, which sharply increases the reference or floor prices at which Mexican tomatoes can be sold in the United States, effective immediately.

The new reference prices, which are identical to those in the propose agreement announced by Commerce Feb. 2, range from nearly 50 percent higher than under the previous agreement to nearly three times as high.

As one would expect on the heels of last year's mango recall at the end of the Mexican mango deal, food safety is the hot topic this year.

Recognizing this, the National Mango Board was scheduled to hold a free seminar for the industry March 6 in McAllen, TX, during the third annual America Trades Produce Conference to make sure that everyone had the latest information and the industry could take every precaution necessary to provide consumers with the safest product possible.

As part of its initiative to raise awareness among college students of the benefits of eating healthful, fresh and fresh-cut produce, Del Monte Fresh will provide its first Beach Bash Dash competition during Spring Break from 12-4 p.m. March 6-8 and March 11-13 in front of the Plaza Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, FL.