SHERMAN OAKS, CA -- San Antonio Orchard Co. LLC, after an absence of four years, will rejoin Sunkist Growers for sales of its citrus packed in Porterville, CA, at the start of the 2005-06 season. The announcement was made jointly by Sunkist and San Antoni o's owners, the W.H. Latimer Trust, following unanimous approval by the Sunkist board of directors at its September meeting. "We're very pleased that this company, which produces and packs high quality fresh citrus, has decided to return to the Sunkist s ystem after being with DNE for a brief period. The new volume will help us continue to

SALINAS, CA  The Produce Marketing Association launched production of an informational film on Sept. 16 at NewStar Fresh Foods, here, about the benefits of using radio frequency identification. The filming continued the following day, one of several stops used in what will result in about a half-hour-long instructional DVD. On Sept. 17, PMA continued at NewStar's cooler. Further filming will include other locations in California, as well as Dallas, New Jersey and PMAs headquarters in Delaware, spread over seven or eight days of shooting. Gary Fleming, PMAs vice president of industry

FKI Logistex in St. Louis has announced that Ted Clucas has been appointed president of FKI Logistex Manufacturing Systems North America. He succeeds Dave Baker, who will assume the role of chief financial officer for the division. Mr. Clucas has been with FKI Logistex for 17 years, most recently as vice president of systems engineering and operations. Prior positions with the company include director of systems operations, project manager and engineering supervisor. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla. "Ted's experience in

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns has announced the appointment of Del Tinsley as Wyoming state director for USDA Rural Development. "Del Tinsley has a long and positive record in Wyoming as a businessman and publisher. He brings to USDA Rural Development an in-depth knowledge of Wyoming agriculture. I'm pleased he is joining President Bushs leadership team," said Mr. Johanns. Mr. Tinsley has served as president of the Wyoming Realtors Land Institute and the Wyoming Board of Agriculture. USDA Rural Developments mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of

The confirmation of two citrus greening finds Sept. 2 in Homestead, FL, was bad enough news for those involved in Florida's $9 billion-a-year citrus industry, but by a week later, updates from APHIS National Plant Germplasm & Biotechnology Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, confirmed that it is much more widespread than originally thought. The devastating disease, which first ruins fruit and then kills trees  usually within five years of infection  is carried from tree to tree by the citrus psyllid, an Asian insect species. In the early stages of the disease, trees cease to produce edible fruit

Scattered freezes in Chile are expected to have at least some minor impact on the upcoming Chilean fruit deal. Two Chilean fruit importers told The Produce News Sept. 19 that Chile's fruit industry has many microclimates in many growing areas, which are spread across much of the long country. Because of this diversity, the Chilean fruit industry tends to be protected from a single major disaster. The diversity also makes it difficult to have a fast read on where the damage may be worst in cold times, which crops were most affected and how extensive the damage might be. Jim Pandol of Pandol