Food safety, sustainability and immigration reform will take center stage at the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's 65th annual convention Sept. 21- 23 at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, FL.

In its July 7, 2008 issue, The Produce News published an article, "Karla Stockli joins Cal Fig Advisory Board." Due to an unfortunate error by our Western Editor, Brian Gaylord, substantial portions of this article were inadvertently copied from an article which ran in the June 30, 2008 issue of The Packer, "Fig advisory board names general manager", written by Don Schrack of The Packer.

Wenatchee, WA-based Stemilt Growers, a major player in U.S. tree fruit production, recently opened the doors of its new Miller Street pear facility in Wenatchee.

According to Stemilt Marketing Director Roger Pepperl, the new facility features two commit-to-pack lines, a post-harvest pear-ripening center and a network of cold storage rooms.

Mr. Pepperl said that the new pear lines will increase efficiencies and give the company more flexibility when filling orders.

Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. recently acquired two melon operations in Guatemala to further strengthen its position as a leader in the off shore melon season and as one of the world's leading fresh produce companies.

The combined acquired operations produced approximately 5 million boxes of cantaloupes and honeydews during the 2008 season. Neither company marketed their products under the "Del Monte" brand during the 2008 season.

CHICAGO - The volume of apples produced in the United States for the 2008- 09 season is expected to be down about 5 percent from the previous season and down about 9 percent from the five-year average, according to the U.S. Apple Association. USApple is forecasting a total national crop of 207.18 million bushels.

Those estimates differ slightly from U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers, which indicate a 1 percent increase from last season and a 4 percent decrease from the five-year average. USDA is forecasting a total national crop of 218.22 million bushels.

Before airplanes had sophisticated technical instruments and flight control systems, pilots flew planes literally by feel. Pilots felt their way through the sky by the plane's response to their actions at the controls. The largest point of contact between the pilot and the plane was in the feel through the seat of the pants. Thus, the phrase "flying by the seat of your pants" was originated.

And it was certainly fitting with the recent tomato fallout.