The word “new” can be fascinating. Introduce something new and people are immediately curious about it. Many want to know all about it. A new item, new tool, new technology, new version and just about anything that is new is captivating.

We’ve all heard the ever-popular greeting, “What’s new?” Of course, we all know that really translates into, “Hello.” Notice that nobody ever says, “What’s old?” That’s because people are more interested in anything that is “new.”

This is a good year to be in the Texas citrus business. While California growers have had to tussle with sub-freezing weather, Florida farmers have tangled with the other extreme: a winter that has been a little too warm to produce perfect fruit. Meanwhile, Texas growers have had more of a walk in the park.

All signs point to increased organic sales in the United States and Canada in 2012, according to the Organic Trade Association, headquartered in Brattleboro, VT.

Barbara Haumann, senior writer and editor for the OTA, told The Produce News that the organization’s annual survey, which is done early each year to collect data from the previous year, is not compiled and ready for release until March or April.

Though three weeks of cold weather is getting most of the blame — or credit — for sending western vegetable prices through the roof, the warm spell during the late fall has had just as big of an impact.

“I’ve never seen a weather situation quite like this,” said Mark McBride, who is on the sales desk at Coastline, based in Salinas, CA. “We had very warm weather [in November and December] that put us three weeks ahead of schedule, which I’ve never seen before. That was followed by about three weeks when we had a frost situation every morning.”

Contrary to some rumors that strawberries in California suffered extensive damage due to a cold snap in mid-January, most escaped damage and only isolated areas were affected, according to the California Strawberry Commission.

The reality is that the effects of the freeze were "hit and miss" and affected "isolated individuals," Carolyn O'Donnell, communications director for commission, told The Produce News Jan. 22. It was "not mass destruction."

Bolthouse Farms, based in Bakersfield, CA, hired JASON DOMENICO as national sales director on Aug. 27.

In his new position, Mr. Domenico handles carrots, Super Premium Juice and refrigerated salad dressings for the company.

Before joining Bolthouse, he worked for 18 years at Chiquita Brands. He has been in the produce industry for a total of 20 years, but grew up in the industry as his father owned a produce wholesale company in Denver.