PHILADELPHIA -- Field workers can be among the beneficiaries of a new natural mosquito repellant patch now being marketed by AgraCo Technologies International LLC in Lafayette Hill, PA. David Webster, AgraCo's chief executive officer, met with The Produce News April 18 to discuss this latest product to be marketed by his firm, whose products include ethylene filters and fly traps. Mr. Webster said that the transdermal patches are applied to the skin like the familiar nicotine or Dramamine patches. There are no chemicals or insecticides in AgraCo's mosquito patch; the only ingredient in the

California Giant Berry Farms is launching a national consumer sweepstakes event partnering with two exciting and unique companies during the peak strawberry season. Together with Nautilus and Litehouse Dressing, Cal Giant has developed an enticing way to increase consumer purchases while communicating their mutual goal of health and fitness. These three companies are collaborating on a national sweepstakes offer called Sweet-Balance. The California Giant message to consumers and the retail trade has been focused on health and nutrition supported by certification from the American Heart

MONTE VISTA, CO -- A decade in the San Luis Valley agriculture industry and a close working relationship with many of the area's potato grower-shippers puts Jim Ehrlich in a unique position as the new executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee. Mr. Ehrlich succeeds Chris Voigt, who vacated the post last September for a similar position with the Washington State Potato Commission. Mr. Ehrlich joined the committee April 1 after having been with Coors Brewing Co.'s operations and facilities in the San Luis Valley since 1996, serving initially as an agronomist and later as

Its two booths -- No. 10943 on the show floor of the United Produce Show and the other situated in the Idaho section of the U.S. Food Export Showcase in the International Pavilion -- will serve as simultaneous unveiling sites for the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee's new logo and marketing campaign. Sherise Jones, marketing director for the committee, said in mid-April that the eye-grabbing new logo and accompanying tagline, "Sweet with Heat," were designed for broad spectrum appeal. "We want to appeal to everyone," Ms. Jones said. "The tagline communicates the unique cooking attributes

CASTROVILLE, CA -- Decades and decades ago, when packing artichokes was the domain of local women from the Castroville area, Hugo Tottino, a partner in the California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corp., would start every day by going into the packing plant to personally greet each of his workers before heading into his office. Today, a lot has changed in the world around him. Artichokes are packed in the field, and the labor force has dramatically changed. The Castroville company has a large modern facility. Even the artichoke itself has undergone some important changes. But the 80-year-old

Figures tracked by the Mexican Mango Exporters Association and published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that Freska Produce International in Ventura, CA, is the largest importer of Mexican mangos in the United States. The April 15 report shows that Freska had brought in 1.5 million boxes of mangos, representing 50 percent of all crossings at Nogales, AZ, and 18 percent of all Mexican mangos coming into the United States since the season began. Though Freska Produce has been on the scene for only a few years, one of its principals, Jesus (Chuy) Loza, is a veteran of the mango