On June 16, USDA inspectors at the Needles Border Station in Needles, CA, discovered live false codling moth larvae in a clementine contained in a shipment of the fruit from South Africa. The inspectors also discovered one dead larva in the same shipment. On June 20, another single live larva was discovered, also at the Needles Border Station. A complete investigation of the shipment revealed another dozen dead larvae, but no other live insects were found. On Wednesday, June 29, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services confirmed the find and advised the public that FDACS

The Campari Marketing Group, made up of BC Hothouse in Surrey, BC, Eurofresh Farms in Willcox, AZ, and Mastronardi Produce in Leamington, ON, represents all the Campari tomato production in North America, which is more than 50 million pounds annually. A Campari tomato is a cocktail-size tomato, typically sold on the vine in a single-layer clamshell package. Camparis are one of the better-tasting tomatoes in the market, but consumer awareness of this particular tomato variety is still low. "The feedback we get from consumers is overwhelmingly positive," said Dwight Ferguson, CEO of Eurofresh

Federal Fruit & Produce Co., which was founded in 1946 and services Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming from its Denver headquarters, has become the newest member of Produce Alliance. "Federal Fruit & Produce Co. is dedicated to bringing the finest fruit and vegetable products available to its customers," said Chuck Wilkinson, managing director of Produce Alliance. By joining Produce Alliance, Federal Fruit & Produce Co. becomes part of a national distribution network. Produce Alliance is excited to announce a member in the Colorado market. This area has been a geograpical target for

Sun World International LLC, one of California's larger vertically integrated agricultural corporations, announced the appointment of Bruce C. Burton as chief executive officer, effective July 18. Mr. Burton brings to Sun World an impressive track record of success in agribusiness. He spent 13 years with the Dole Food Co., including eight years as the group vice president for the North American Deciduous Group, with profit and loss responsibility for Doles $130 million North American deciduous fruit business. Prior to that he served for three years as director and vice president of strategic

With the acquisition of Salinas, CA-based Fresh Express by Chiquita Brands International completed, the real work of melding Fresh Express into a Chiquita subsidiary can begin. Fresh Express CEO Mark Drever told The Produce News June 30 -- two days after the sale was completed -- that Fresh Express employees "are genuinely excited" to be part of Chiquita. "It's seen as a positive development by Fresh Express employees, he said. "Chiquita and Fresh Express have complementary positions in the marketplace. Chiquita is strong in fruit, and Fresh Express is strong in value-added and the vegetable

Jeffery Hall, manager of the Vidalia Onion Committee in Vidalia, GA, stepped down June 30 to pursue an opportunity with National Onion Labs in Collins, GA. Set to fill the position, effective July 11, is Wendy Brannen, who has experience in television news and advertising, and a family in the agriculture industry. "I have predominantly worked as a news journalist" in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Ms. Brannen told The Produce News. Before taking this manager position with the committee, she had been working as an advertising executive for Northland Cable. My family has been heavily