Owensville, IN-based Chamberlain Farms is recalling cantaloupe in connection to a Salmonella outbreak that has caused 178 illnesses and two deaths, the Food and Drug Administration announced late Aug. 22.

As early as Aug. 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an Indiana farm was withdrawing product from the marketplace in connection to the outbreak, but it took until Aug. 22 for the company’s name to be identified.

After cashing a check last month from the local utility company for creating more power than he used, Chuck Thomas, president of Thomas Produce Sales Inc. in Nogales, AZ, is scratching his head trying to figure out why his was one of the first produce warehouses to install solar panels in the area.

“I was very surprised that nobody else had done it,” he said. “Especially last year when the tax incentives were so great.”

Spice World Inc. in Orlando, FL, which introduced a processed garlic product it calls Squeeze Garlic a year or so ago in a 20-ounce bottle.

Squeeze Garlic is minced garlic in a convenient, easy-to-use squeeze bottle.

“We are always doing new things,” said Louis Hymel, director of purchasing. Now “we are packing a nine-and-a half-ounce size of the Squeeze Organic, which is a new product for us.”

In addition, the company is now doing “a squeeze garlic packed in extra virgin olive oil, which really accents that product well,” he said.

GATINEAU, QC — Nelson Lachance was honored as a QPMA Pillar of the Quebec Industry during the final banquet at the 65th annual QPMA convention, held here Aug. 16-18. Mr. Lachance’s look back at key moments in his 50 years in the produce industry highlighted key mentors that supported him along the way.

Sunkist Growers will source its entire Texas grapefruit volume exclusively from Lone Star Citrus. The expanded joint program will enable Sunkist to provide a year-round supply of grapefruit to its customers.

Sunkist, an international marketing cooperative headquartered in Sherman Oaks, CA, began sourcing and shipping Texas grapefruit in 2001.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration said Aug. 21 that it is taking the next step in reviewing a request to terminate the tomato suspension agreement with Mexico.

The agreement sets a minimum price that Mexican producers-exporters can sell their fresh and chilled tomatoes to eliminate damaging effects of exports on U.S.-grown tomatoes.