VISALIA, CA " It has been a little more than two years since California citrus growers, fed up with losing money year after year, banded together in a voluntary cooperative called the California Citrus Growers Association, with the objective of returning their industry to profitability. Last year, the industry enjoyed its most profitable Navel season in recent memory, and so far, in spite of a record on-tree crop " estimated at 92 million 37.5 pound cartons " the 2004-05 Navel season is on track to be another profitable year, according to four directors of CCGA who participated in a panel

It's a match made in heaven " or at least at the dinner table. The Produce for Better Health Foundation and the Culinary Institute of America announced that they are joining forces to help the foodservice industry seize opportunities to increase fruit and vegetable offerings on the menu and grow fruit and vegetable sales in foodservice in the process. PBH and CIA have been collaborating informally for the past year; last fall CIA featured PBH executives at several CIA educational forums targeting foodservice menu development executives and quality assurance professionals. The announcement

New York Agriculture Commissioner Nathan L. Rudgers presented the state?s Pride of New York marketing and promotional program to the members of the Eastern Produce Council at its monthly meeting held March 15 in Teaneck, NJ. ?Just as all New Yorkers have pride in their family, their community and their state, our farmers have pride in the products they produce," Mr. Rudgers said. "By presenting the Pride of New York program to the Eastern Produce Council, we were able to explain to the metropolitan produce industry that New Yorkers have a shared sense of pride, and that whether they are

After 17 years at Verdelli Farms in Harrisburg, PA, Tom Marrolli has resigned to take a new position with State Garden Inc., the Boston-based producer of "State Garden? and "Noreast? brand spinach and spring mix products. Mr. Marrolli, who served as director of sales at Verdelli for the past eight years, said he leaves the company with great memories. ?Verdelli was a great opportunity for me," Mr. Marrolli said. "The Verdelli family was always very generous to me and my family, and I want to thank them for everything they have done. I wish them only the very best going forward." Verdelli

KENNEWICK, WA " At the same time that Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire declared a statewide drought emergency Thursday, March 10, at a Yakima press conference, growers across the state were busy preparing for the 2005 fruit and vegetable season. Preparation this year includes, in some cases, plans for upgraded water conservation practices, possible reduction in volume and a watchful eye to the sky for any break in the prevalent weather patterns. Growers are also awaiting the April 1 report on snowpack and streamflows. March reports from the Washington Department of Ecology indicated

Where do you work? Are you sure you have the correct company name? What name was on your company building today? What name will be on it next year, next month, next week or even tomorrow? In a company somewhere today, a receptionist or automated answering system could be welcoming a caller by saying, "Hello, you have reached the Laurel and Hardy Produce Company." Tomorrow, the same system in the same building could change to "Hello, you have reached the Abbott and Costello Produce Company, formerly the Laurel and Hardy Produce Company." It could happen at lightening speed. As the saying goes,