Increases in Florida blueberry production have been nearly phenomenal, more than doubling in the past three to four years alone. Even more impressive is that much of the growth has been south of the Tampa-Orlando regions, or what is typically referred to by Floridians as south of the Interstate 4 line, where temperatures during the eight-week (in a good year) blueberry season from mid- to late March through early May, average in the mid- to high 70- degree range. "Last year, growers in the state produced about 6 million pounds of blueberries, and the year before we were at 4.5 million," said

After a two-and-a-half-year stretch as vice president of produce for Topco Associates in Skokie, IL, Rob O'Rourke is returning to RJO Produce Marketing, the company he founded in Fresno, CA, in 1993 with his brother John. RJO President John O'Rourke said in a company statement that he is delighted to have his brother back on the RJO team. "Rob has very progressive thoughts and ideas on how to better serve the produce industry," Mr. O'Rourke said in a statement. "Rob is a change agent, and has always been one to come up with new ways to grow our retail customers' sales and help suppliers to be

The Sholl Group II, a pioneer in the fresh produce industry, and General Mills, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products, announced the launch of a new spring promotion that combines two American classics: Green Giant Fresh Iceberg lettuce and Betty Crocker Bac- Os. The program is a 55-cent instant-redeemable coupon that will be affixed to each wrapped head of Green Giant Fresh Iceberg lettuce. The coupon will offer instant savings on Green Giant Fresh Iceberg lettuce with the purchase of any Betty Crocker Bac-Os product. The promotion, which began May 21 and will

Watsonville, CA-based Monterey Mushrooms Inc. signed a five-year contract with the United Farm Workers May 14 that involves the company's 650 full- time, year-round employees at its Royal Oaks, CA, facility. The Royal Oaks facility -- which sits between Watsonville and Prunedale -- produces in excess of 750,000 pounds of fresh mushrooms per week, 52 weeks a year. Industry leader Monterey Mushrooms grows all its mushrooms on-site. The contract provides for full medical, dental and vision benefits for workers and their families, as well as wage increases and better vacation and paid holiday

NEWARK, DE -- The Produce Marketing Association announced that General Colin L. Powell (Ret.) will be the general session speaker Friday, Oct. 12 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the 2007 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition. The convention will be held Oct. 12-15 in Houston. "We are both honored and excited that the Honorable Colin L. Powell has accepted our invitation. We are eagerly anticipating learning his view of leadership and how we can apply his insights to our own lives and businesses," PMA President Bryan Silbermann said in a May 22 statement. Gen. Powell -- military

MONTREAL -- Trade between Mexico and Canada increased 21 percent in 2006, thanks in large part to the agricultural products that Mexico sends to its northern neighbor. "Just in agricultural products, the increase was 35 percent, and a very important part of the jump is thanks to fruits and vegetables," Enrique Lobo, the minister of agricultural affairs for the embassy of Mexico in Canada, told The Produce News. "They have been a very important player in the increase of exports from Mexico to Canada," and barring any unforeseen weather problems, "we expect the trend to continue to increase for