The short list of big items that have coalesced into campaigns promoting watermelon consumption is impressive. “We significantly restructured at the end of 2014 and created a new primary focus on foodservice,” said Stephanie Barlow, senior director of communications for the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Services that would increase costs for the produce trade and have an impact on Chilean imports has come under fire by two members of Congress.

Steve Oldock, owner of King Farms, headquartered in Naples, FL, told The Produce News that the company’s Florida spring crops are on schedule this year.

Promotable volume is one phrase used by several shippers when describing this year’s California cherry crop. Coming on the heels of last year’s weather-plagued crop of around 3 million cartons, this year shippers are expecting a crop of at least twice that size.

Following one of the coldest East Coast winters on record, Sunkist is happy to be bringing a taste of California and Arizona sunshine to the 2015 Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention and trade show in Montreal. The citrus cooperative will showcase fresh, premium seasonal citrus along with new point-of-sale materials to help trade partners spring into citrus to lift spirits and sales.

VIDALIA, GA — Vidalia onion season officially starts two weeks from today. It's a rite of spring that consumers everywhere look forward to, and there is no better place to talk to shoppers about Vidalias, the sweet onion category and the upcoming season than sweet onion central: Vidalia, GA.