Dozens of new seedless grapes as well as fresh plums, apricots and peaches -- bred by California fruit researchers -- will soon be more readily available to growers and marketers throughout Europe. In an effort to expand its new fruit variety development and licensing programs, Sun World International LLC has established Sun World Europe, according to Sun World Senior Vice President David Marguleas. The office will be based in Cesena, Italy, within the important fruit-growing region of Emilia-Romagna. The new European presence supports and solidifies Sun World's global strategy of aggressively

SALINAS, CA -- Tanimura & Antle, based here, has unveiled upgraded food- safety measures for its growers to follow, which became effective Dec. 21. These measures include increased minimum-distance requirements from potential risks, tightened standard operating procedures for crops near flood risks, managing use of certified compost, increased water quality testing and stricter pre-planting ranch assessments. Bob Mills, newly hired to the role of director of food safety and quality assurance at T&A, said that after the E. coli outbreak in spinach, the company recognized that "all aspects of

If truly there is such a thing as a win-win proposition, it might be the new environmentally friendly grocery bags being promoted by several companies including Earthwise Bag Co. Inc. in Commerce, CA. The reusable shopping bag allows environmentally conscience consumers to forego the traditional "paper or plastic" choice; provides a stronger alternative for toting product from the store to the car and ultimately to the consumer's home; allows grocery stores to utilize the bag for advertising and promotional purposes; and can also help the bottom line of a grocery chain as the sales of the bag

A very strong and cold trough of low pressure will drop southward into California's Central Valley late this week and this coming weekend. The citrus industry in the Central Valley is particularly concerned. Lows Thursday, Jan. 11, will remain close to 30 with clouds and rain and possibly snow showers. The cool and wet conditions will continue into Friday, Jan. 12, with highs in the mid-40s and lows in the mid- to upper 20s Friday night. Clearing and dry weather is forecast for Saturday, Jan. 13, and Sunday, Jan. 14, with lows of 20-26 degrees and highs in the mid-40's. The bottom line: cold

SALINAS, CA -- Tom Koster, who in January 2006 stepped into the newly created position of vice president of sales and shipping for Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co., has left the company to run Koster Communications, a firm he founded with his wife, Lorri Koster, who is currently co-chairman of Mann Packing Co. No replacement for Mr. Koster has been named and a search has yet to be launched. Mr. Koster joined Mann in 1990 on the sales desk, and was promoted to director of sales in 2002. As vice president of sales and shipping, Mr. Koster was responsible for overseeing the servicing of Mann's

WASHINGTON -- The stalled immigration reform effort may get a jump-start early in the new Congress as Senate backers of comprehensive reform are drafting a new bill, sources said. This news cannot be more welcomed by fruit and vegetable growers facing a worsening labor shortage. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) are said to be drafting a revised version of the immigration reform bill that passed the Senate last year. According to The New York Times, the bill's drafters are considering blocking funds to build the 700-mile fence along the border with Mexico and removing the Senate