Protected agriculture continues to grow in Mexico and now represents a preponderance of horticultural exports to the United States, according to Eric Viramontes, chief executive officer of the Associación Mexicana de Horticultura Protegida A.C., or Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture, headquartered in Culiacan, Sinaloa, and better known by its acronym AMHPAC.

In sharp contrast with the 2011 production season, potato growers in the Red River Valley may have to deal with the impact of dry weather as they begin production on this year’s crop. “For the most part, we’ve been drier than average,” said Ted Kreis, marketing director for the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association in East Grand Forks, MN. “Last year, we had a problem with crops getting drowned out. [This year,] we could have used some additional rain.”

Marc Holbik, director of grower relations for Ecoripe Tropicals based in Medley, FL, will be joined by the company’s general manager, Isabel Hurtado, to greet visitors at the annual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Oct. 26-28 in Anaheim, CA.

California Giant Berry Farms, headquartered in Watsonville, CA, announced the hiring of SER

“We are excited about the launch of another new product in our sweet potato line,” Shane Watt, vice president of production for Wada Farms Marketing Group, headquartered in Idaho Falls, ID, told The Produce News. “It is a jumbo-size shrink-wrapped 14- to 18-ounce microwavable sweet potato. We are offering it under our ‘Wada Farms’ label.”

Curry & Co. will highlight its year-round blueberry program and emphasize its import program at this year’s Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit.

“We’ll have a full Curry & Co. team,” President Matt Curry told The Produce News Sept. 24. Mr. Curry and Mike Klackle, Dave Hicks, Adam Blocker, Sandra White, Trish Lovell, Jamie Brannen, Melody Garcia, Jake Mayfield and Patrick Garrison will be available to talk with attendees and field questions during the trade show at booth No. 1164.