A three-year project titled European Flavors aims to promote food products produced in the European Union to the United States, Russia and Japan. The project was developed and approved in 2007 and was kicked off in early 2008. J.C. Barros, U.S. marketing director for European Flavors, said that the project is designed to promote healthier eating habits among consumers. "Our goal is to encourage people to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets," said Mr. Barros, who is headquartered in Miami. "The program focuses on Mediterranean-style diets and traditions, such as those that are

IRVINE, CA -- Don Reeder was elected chairman of the California Avocado Commission at its November board of directors meeting, Ohannes Karaoghlanian will serve as vice chairman, with Bradley Miles as secretary and Ben Holtz as treasurer. The elections filled five member positions and two handler positions this year. The commission board members serve two-year terms with the new members joining eight members already seated. "I'm looking forward to working with the new CAC board," Mr. Reeder said in a Dec. 15 press release. "The California avocado industry is forecasting a solid crop this coming

PLANT CITY, FL -- For now, the offices are empty, the paint is so fresh one can still smell it and workers continue to scurry about putting finishing touches on a just-renovated 51,000-square-foot facility that will serve as headquarters for SunnyRidge Farms' Florida strawberry operations. Within days, as office equipment and custom-manufactured pre-coolers arrive, the facility will become a hub of activity. Already, thousands of pre- made flats and cartons are stacked and waiting in the new SunnyRidge warehouse as the Florida strawberry season gets into full swing. SunnyRidge entered the

DILLSBURG, PA -- The nation's apple harvest yielded a vintage crop of apples in 2009, and many retailers took that opportunity to display and feature apples in their produce departments this fall. During the three-month merchandising window of September through November, the retail trade had the opportunity to feature early to late-season varieties as well as many local and regional varieties. Retailers found success in adding the partner products of Marzetti Caramel Apple Dips, JIF Natural Peanut Butter and Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter products to increase register rings. National Apple

John Napoleon Derdivanis, 87, died Dec. 12 in Monterey, CA. Born March 29, 1922, to Greek immigrant parents in Fresno, CA, he graduated from Roosevelt High School, where he was class president in 1937, according to a Dec. 14 press release. He continued to Bakersfield Junior College, where he was student body president. Along with a stint in the U.S. Army, Mr. Derdivanis attended the University of California at Los Angeles, where he majored in business and served on the Student Council. He was a pitcher for the UCLA Bruins and was affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. There he met

Citrus growers in California's San Joaquin Valley spent the nights of Dec. 7-8 taking intensive measures to protect their crops from freezing temperatures and managed to avert serious damage, according to press advisories issued Dec. 9 by California Citrus Mutual in Exeter, CA. However, "growers are anticipating reduced utilization because of ice marking," the advisory said. Ice marking is "a surface blemish that creates defects [and increases the chance of] bacteria development and premature decay. This fruit will not be packed, thereby reducing the number of cartons available for fresh