The new Philadelphia produce market will not open before the first of the year.

That is a reality that Philadelphia Fresh Food Terminal Corp. executives Jimmy Storey, president, and Louis Penza, vice president, shared in an Aug. 18 conference call with The Produce News.

"We've been kind of told it's been pushed back to the first of the year, but no one is going to officially say it," said Mr. Penza. "Call it a 'well-grounded rumor.'"

Fairtrade-certified summer citrus from South Africa was featured in 16 Food Emporium stores in Manhattan the third week of August.

This promotion was organized by importer Fisher Capespan, based in Gloucester City, NJ. Fisher Capespan President Marc Solomon and South African citrus grower Gerrit van der Merwe presided over samplings of the Fairtrade fruit Aug. 16 in an upscale Food Emporium that is within the foundation of Manhattan's 59th Street Bridge.

Andy Gustavson, produce manager for Ben Lomond Market in Ben Lomond, CA, and produce supervisor for sister store Scotts Valley Market, told The Produce News Aug. 3 that organic slicing tomatoes out of Baja California, Mexico, were selling well.

As of the week of Aug. 2, Ben Lomond Market had those organic slicing tomatoes on ad at 99 cents per pound. Tomatoes out of Baja California eat well, he said.

Warm weather in Quebec has been both a blessing and a curse for Quebec growers this season.

A warmer than normal spring enabled many growers to plant a week to two weeks earlier than normal.

Life is not a field exercise. Just ask Mitch Brownfield.

The 29-year-old, who is part of the sales team at family-owned Sweet Clover Produce in Walla Walla, WA, has been a member of the U.S. Army, both active and reserve, since 2000, and has served as a senior drill sergeant out of Ft. Knox, KY.

Mr. Brownfield is a man of business and a man of action, and the military is in his blood.

The family portrait of the folks who make up the produce industry is changing.

Old and new generations stand side by side. Different nationalities join the picture. More women are taking over decision-making positions. New players enter the scene and strategic alliances are formed.