Extremely cold weather in Peru has delayed the asparagus crop, but U.S. importers expect heavy volume to start by mid- to late-August and total import to be up 12-15 percent this year. Asparagus from Peru has increased tremendously in the past decade, doubling to more than 13 million cartons per year since 1997. In the calendar year 2006, which would include the end of crop year 2005 and most of the 2006 crop year, U.S. importers brought in almost 13.2 million cartons of asparagus, according to the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association. Priscilla Lleras, coordinator for the association

Unique Cold Storage, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, recently announced that it is expanding its range of warehouse services for produce shippers. "A full menu of services is offered for companies desiring support in the Florida area," said Brian Osborne, operations manager. "Our easy access to major interstate highways and our proximity to distribution centers for several large retailers make Unique Cold Storage a great choice for any company seeking advanced warehouse services in our area." Mr. Osborne said that pick-ups made at the company's Pompano Beach location help shave valuable

Apofruit Italia Soc. Coop. Agricola in Cesena, Italy, DiDonna Trade S.r.l. in Rutigliano, Italy, and Comercial Frunexa S.L. in Seville, Spain, have been granted approval to market new fruit varieties developed by Sun World International LLC, based in Bakersfield, CA. The nomination enables the three companies to market fruit from proprietary fruit varieties grown by licensed Sun World producers throughout Europe, according to Sun World Senior Vice President David Marguleas. DiDonna holds a grape license while Frunexa holds a stone fruit license. Apofruit holds licenses to distribute Sun World

The New York Apple Association, based in Fishers, NY, announced that its annual crop prediction is 29.5 million bushels for the fall harvest. "We're looking at an outstanding-quality crop this fall," Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association, said in a July 30 statement announcing the forecast. "New York's crop this year will be one to savor and enjoy." Outstanding summer growing conditions, as well as ideal pollination conditions this spring, have led to one of the better-looking crops ever in New York, according to growers. Statewide, the three primary growing regions are all

Almost four years ago, the California-based Citrus Research Board embarked on a project to determine the feasibility of developing a robot that could roam a citrus orchard and pick fruit distinguishing both size and quality in the process. Ted Batkin, president of the board, said that the project reached a major milestone in mid-June that has advanced the concept from theoretical to reality. Now it is seemingly only a matter of time before a robotic harvester is picking oranges in the California's San Joaquin Valley as well as apples in Washington's Wenatchee Valley. "It has become extremely

Anthony Totta, principal of Grow My Profits, a produce consulting firm in Lee's Summit, MO, is now affiliated with RonProCon, the produce consulting firm headed by Ron Pelger. Grow My Profits is designed to help growers maximize their returns by making sound investments, streamlining their operations and minimizing waste, according to Mr. Totta. The firm was set up to guide growers in the development of successful operational and marketing needs of the produce industry. "We are very excited that Grow My Profits is joining our industry affiliation of professional produce consultants," said Mr