A random inquiry to dozens of fresh produce industry members indicates that both presidential candidates enjoy significant support from the produce industry's rank-and-file. An unscientific e-mail blast sent to different produce business classifications across the nation resulted in many different responses, with adamant supporters of both Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama and Republican candidate Sen. John McCain. There are also some undecideds as well as a significant number of respondents who did not want to be publicly identified with their choice for president. While most who did not

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Sun World International LLC featured a new look with the unveiling of a new company web site (www.sun-world.com) the week of Oct. 6-10. The redesigned site is colorful, easy to navigate and features the company's proprietary brands and products. The new Sun World web presence highlights the California company's role as a leading supplier of distinctive seedless grapes, stone fruit, citrus, peppers and seedless watermelon as well as its world-renowned variety development and licensing programs. It portrays a modern image with succulent fresh fruit images and delicious recipes

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer recently appointed three producer members, three alternate producer members, two importer members and two alternate importer members to serve on the Hass Avocado Board. Reappointed to the board were producer members Ben R. Drake of Temecula, CA, and Kenneth J. Roth of Vista, CA; Kay S. Wild, alternate producer member of Vista, CA; importer members James C. Donovan of Ventura, CA, and Giovanni Cavaletto of Redlands, CA; and alternate importer members Elena H. Garcia of Chandler, AZ, and Pilar Charrada of Los Angeles. Newly appointed to the board were Ohannes

Although the heaviest volume of produce crossing from Mexico into the United States through Nogales, AZ, comes during the winter and early spring primarily out of the state of Sinaloa, the Nogales deal kicks off in earnest in October and November with melons and assorted vegetables from the state of Sonora, which borders Arizona. Sonora fall production "is a big deal for the Mexico season because it is the start of what we look at as the fall-winter deal," said Allison Moore, communications director for the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, based in Nogales, AZ. Following the Sinaloa

NORWALK, CA -- Food safety was the topic of discussion at the Fresh Produce & Floral Council membership luncheon, held here Oct. 1 at the Norwalk Marriott. Neil Checketts, senior director of food safety and food defense for Wal-Mart and the featured speaker at the event, spoke about a myriad of food safety topics that confront retailers, foodservice operators and consumers. Mr. Checketts first focused upon risk factors for retailers. He said that Wal- Mart founder Sam Walton once said, "The bigger Wal-Mart gets, the more important it is that we think small." Mr. Checketts said that the company

NEW YORK -- Ocean Spray is once again bringing the beauty and the mystique of the cranberry harvest to the public with its "Bogs Across America" tour. The tour's first stop was Oct. 7-9 at New York City's Rockefeller Center, marking the "Big Apple Bog's" third year at the world-famous location. The cooperative constructed a 1,500-square-foot bog filled with 2,000 pounds of fresh cranberries in front of the landmark General Electric building. . Three of the cooperative's growers fielded numerous questions from the public about the berries and the harvest during the event. The winners of Ocean