ORLANDO, FL -- More people than ever before attended the Southeast Produce Council's fifth annual conference and expo, smashing the previous mark by perhaps 200 or more, according to SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees. The exact numbers are not complete, but "at least 800 people" and perhaps as many as 900 attended the conference, dubbed Southern Exposure 2008, which took place Feb. 21-23, here, according to Mr. Vorhees. "The attendance has certainly grown each year," he told The Produce News Wednesday, Feb. 27, "and it could go to 1,000 next year" for the sixth annual conference in Tampa

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a lowered grade standard for fresh table grapes. The proposal was announced Feb. 26 in the Federal Register as the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service sought changes requested by the Fresno- based California Grape & Tree Fruit League to revise the tolerances to include an allowance for shattered berries. This proposal is offered due to the change of pack style from mostly plain pack to consumer-size units. There is a 30-day comment period on these changes, with comments on the changes due to AMS by March 27. According to the Federal Register

Mann Packing Co., based in Salinas, CA, is gearing up to Swing Into Spring with a new on-pack offer promotion. Starting March 10, Mann will place instant redeemable coupons on 250,000 packages of its eight-ounce sugar snap peas and gourmet snow peas. This is one of five on-pack offers Mann is planning in 2008 to encourage trial and build sales of its cut-vegetable products. "The data show that this level of offer resonates with consumers," Lorri Koster, vice president of marketing, said in a press release. "The timing - just before Easter - will help build volume and bring new shoppers into

ORANGE BEACH, AL -- Southern hospitality was in abundant supply for the 420 attendees of the National Watermelon Association's 94th annual convention, who were treated to a "slice of paradise" Feb. 20-24, here, at the Perdido Beach Resort. The association and the National Watermelon Promotion Board both unveiled several new initiatives during the convention, the most notable of which was a congressional resolution proclaiming July as National Watermelon Month. The resolution was expected to be signed into law by the end of this month, Bob Morrissey, the association's executive director, said

Fidel Castro's Feb. 19 resignation as president of Cuba will likely influence the face of the U.S. produce trade. One industry source suggested that Cuban soil might create new production opportunities for Florida growers, while another source expects the inevitable exports of Cuban produce to the United States will inevitably hurt growers in Mexico and Central America. Mayda Sotomayor came to the United States from Cuba at the age of three during the Freedom Flights allowed by Mr. Castro after the 1959 Cuban revolution. Ms. Sotomayor, who is now chief executive officer of Seald Sweet

James L. LaBarba, president and co-founder of Dallas-based produce brokerage firm Ideal Sales Inc., died Feb. 22 at his home in Dallas after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 66. The first of six children, Mr. LaBarba was born Sept. 30, 1941 in Dallas to Zula C. and Carlo P. LaBarba. He graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School in 1959 and from Southern Methodist University in 1966. Throughout his early childhood and college years, Mr. LaBarba worked for the family produce business, American Produce, which was founded by his grandfather in 1917. Mr. LaBarba was one of the