It’s National Eat More Fruits & Vegetables Day, an official holiday dedicated to the proposition that getting more fresh fruits and vegetables is easy, delicious — and, based on U.S. obesity trends — entirely necessary. Starting today, the annual holiday will be celebrated every year on the Thursday before Memorial Day, at the start of the summer produce season.

The annual Spring Lamb Barbecue celebrated its 56th anniversary on Saturday May 16 at the Crosetti Ranch in the foothills of Watsonville, CA. This event has supported the local chapter of the American Cancer Society since it began back in 1959, donating more than $1.5 million since that time. Supporters include produce companies, allied industry and community businesses.

Mann Packing has promoted Danny Goforth, who was part of the company’s customer solutions and sales team, to a new position as district manager for the retail value-added team.

The Redlands Christian Migrant Association has created a fund to assist a farm-working family that lost two young boys in an accidental drowning May 17.

Noel Matias, 4, and his brother Alex, 3, were found in a canal Sunday near the labor camp where the family lived.

The Matias family is seeking help for funeral expenses, including taking the boys’ bodies to Mexico for burial. The boys attended an RCMA child-care center in LaBelle, FL.

The Giumarra Cos., headquartered in Los Angeles, primarily handles blueberries and blackberries. But Tom Richardson, vice president of global development for the company, said it is also growing in the raspberry category, and it now handles a few strawberries.

“We are currently marketing blueberries and blackberries,” Richardson said.

Because garlic is an annual harvest and storage crop item for Christopher Ranch, headquartered in Gilroy, CA, spring is more about continuing to manage its storage inventory and maintaining its supply to customers as sufficiently as possible until its new crop starts in June and July.

Anthony DeAngelis, director of the northeast division for Christopher Ranch, said the company hopes to have some greater opportunity to promote in the late summer.