Ten years ago, California blueberry production barely registered on the radar screen. Today, the state is the fifth-largest highbush blueberry producer in the United States behind only Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington. Highbush blueberries are the type grown in California and 37 other states, and they are distinguished from the lowbush blueberry that is used for processing and is grown in places such as Maine and eastern Canada. Helping to grow the deal in various ways is the three-year-old California Blueberry Association, which consists of grower members and support trade members

Exports of South African citrus are projected to total 89.6 million cartons, or 1.35 million tons, for the 2008 season, marginally down from the 90.9 million cartons, or 1.36 million tons, achieved in the 2007 season. According to an April 3 press release by the Citrus Growers Association of South Africa, at 2008 levels, South Africa is expected to retain its No. 2 ranking in world citrus exports. Navels are grown predominantly in the southern portion of the country and are expected to show a 5 percent increase this year compared to 2007. Valencia-type fruit that is grown in the northern part

Sun World International LLC, a leading California-based agribusiness firm, is positioning itself for future growth through the realignment of key executives and the establishment of three distinct new business units, Allen Vangelos, president and chief executive officer, announced in an April 3 press release. The new business units - administration, operations and marketing - will be headed by Chief Administration Officer David Hostetter, Chief Operations Officer Kevin Andrew and Chief Marketing Officer David Marguleas. Their appointments are effective immediately. "The evolving needs of our

A couple of Safeway Inc. executives with produce and floral experience have been promoted within the company's corporate structure. Safeway has announced the promotion of Kelly Griffith, most recently president of the company's Portland division, to the position of president of perishables, replacing Des Hague, who held the post for about one year. Safeway announced that Mr. Hague was leaving the company to pursue other business opportunities. Mr. Griffith joined Safeway 28 years ago in the Seattle division. After working his way through a range of retail store management assignments, he was

NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- By design, the Produce Marketing Association lined up guest speakers for its Consumer Trends '08 conference, held here April 3-5, who are good at punching holes in people's perceptions. What the industry thinks it knows isn't necessarily so, the speakers said. That's not to say that the sky is falling, just that not enough is being done to hold it up forever. Harry Balzer, vice president of The NPD Group, a national market research firm based in Port Washington, NY, said that he has in his possession data on the eating habits of U.S. consumers that no agency -- save

BOSTON -- The old clich? of good things coming in small packages was certainly an appropriate description of the New England Produce Council's Expo, held here April 9 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Now in its eighth year, the expo's 230 booths drew approximately 700 attendees and was "one of the biggest and best yet," Robert McGowan, president of the council, told The Produce News. "I'm very pleased, and a lot of the success we've seen is attributable to the great retail support we receive," said Mr. McGowan. "This makes the vendors feel good and the sponsors feel good. We're