PHILADELPHIA -- The general manager of the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market believes that the market could still move to a site adjacent to its current location, but it could take four years or more for Sysco to move its existing warehousing operation from that to another location. With the rapid escalation of construction costs, the then-affordable new Philadelphia market size would not be as large as the existing facility, which was built by the city in 1959. For that reason, the next-door plan has been abandoned. Sonny DiCrecchio, manager of the PRPM, confirmed the comments of market

Bartolotta Inc. is looking to give a boost to a traditionally slow time in the produce industry with a new contest set to begin in early January. The contest rules are simple: every truckload of produce purchased between Jan. 7 and Feb. 1 by a new or existing customer of the company will earn that customer one entry in a drawing for a trip to Cancun, Mexico. The full prize is an all-expenses-paid trip for two at a one-bedroom villa at the Omni Hotel in Cancun, including round trip airfare, food and beverage for two. Buying more truckloads increases the chances of winning. The value of the

Growers in the southeastern United States were scrambling Jan. 1 to put into action any plan possible to protect their crops from a weather forecast advising that temperatures could drop to below freezing and last from several hours to as many as 72 hours. Fortunately, the cold front that blew as far south as Key West was considerably less damaging than predicted. "The weather did not have a negative impact on the [citrus] groves at all," said Patrick Norris, sales manager for Seald Sweet, headquartered in Vero Beach, FL. "If anything, it had a positive impact as it will result in better color

As the old saying goes, "Time flies when you're having fun." Well, get ready for another exciting fun ride on the produce roller coaster, complete with more speed, opportunities and responsibilities than ever before. Another year has come and gone in the produce business. Did you make it over most of the tough hurdles this past year? No doubt 2008 will bring with it more changes and challenges. Some may be accomplished with ease, while others may be stressful and burdensome. What are your wishes and resolutions for the new year ahead? Traditional new year resolutions go back to 153 B.C. when

Fyffes plc, based in Dublin, Ireland, announced Jan. 2 that it had entered the U.S. winter melon business by investing in a number of independent companies. These include operations in Honduras and Guatemala, and the acquisition of 60 percent of Sol Group Marketing Co., based in Pompano Beach, FL. In separate transactions, Fyffes has also invested in an 85,000-square-foot warehouse and cold storage facility where most of the imported fruit is distributed from, and has acquired the right to ship all the fruit imported by Sol Group Marketing from Honduras and Guatemala. According to a Fyffes

A new law that penalizes Arizona employers who hire illegal immigrants took effect at the start of 2008, and many are calling it the most Draconian anti-immigration law in the nation -- one that could have a major impact on the nation's winter vegetable supply. Under the new Legal Arizona Workers Act, businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants could face a business-license suspension of up to 10 days on a first offense and lose their license for a second offense. Each illegal hire would be one offense, so a grower with two undocumented workers could be faced with immediate loss of the