This has been a difficult year for the produce industry due to economic, social and weather events. For Pro*Act, a leading distributor of fresh produce to the foodservice industry, the year started strong with fresh fruit sales, thanks to a first-ever sales contest for its members, which was sponsored by the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association. Total sales of fresh grapes and tree fruit (peaches, plums and nectarines) from Chile increased 23 percent from Jan. 20 to Feb. 16 over the same time period last year. Fresh blueberry sales doubled during the same period, according to Lewis & Neale Inc

MOORPARK, CA -- Muranaka Farm, a grower-shipper of fresh produce, announced that John Killeen, a produce industry veteran, is joining the company as vice president of sales and marketing, effective June 9. Mr. Killeen previously worked at Tanimura & Antle in Salinas, CA, where he had been since July 2007, first as vice president of marketing and business development, then in his most recent role as vice president of Midwest sales. This was Mr. Killeen's second stint at T&A. He was previously with the company from 1997 through 2003 in various positions of responsibility. He held positions as

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas held its annual meeting last month at which time members elected the board of directors and ushered in a new chairman. Alicia Bon Martin is the new past-chairman of the association, having served two years as chairman of the board. Chris Ciruli is the new chairman of the association, serving a two-year term, after serving as chairman-elect. New directors on the FPAA board are T.J. Bauer of the L&M Cos. and Alex Canelos of Plain Jane. Returning to the board are Robert Bennen Jr. of Ta-De Distributing, Juan Cardenas of Tricar Sales, Martin Ley of Del

SALINAS, CA -- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a warning to the public June 2 not to consume cantaloupes that were distributed under the "KingFisher" brand name because the cantaloupes "may be contaminated with Salmonella," according to a CFIA press release. The cantaloupes in question are a product of Blythe, CA-based Danna & Fisher and were exported to Canada by Toronto-based Gambles Ontario Produce Inc. The product was distributed under the "KingFisher" brand in cartons containing six or nine cantaloupes. According to CFIA's press release, the cantaloupes were distributed in

Depending on specific commodities' responses to cool, damp weather, it has been a good growing season on the Delmarva Peninsula -- or not. The good news for all the region's growers is that the sun came out in the last days of May and temperatures were rising. Butch Nottingham, who is a marketing representative for the Virginia Department of Agriculture, based in Onley, VA, said that Virginia's Eastern Shore tomato shipping season will "start probably in mid-June ... and run until frost, which would be between mid-October and mid-November." The tomato crop looks very good, he added. David

Lighter supplies from most of the southern Mexico mango districts led to a good market in May, and many people are saying that this should be the rule rather than the exception throughout the summer. Bill Vogel, president of Tavilla Sales Co. of Los Angeles, said that production in Nayarit, Mexico, was three weeks later than usual, which created the short supply situation in May. But because it was late, it is overlapping the southern Sinaloa deal and is producing a situation where there will be very promotable supplies from mid-June through July 4. "There will be lots of fruit in the 10, 12