Driscoll’s announced its chief executive officer succession plans, as J. Miles Reiter, chairman and now former CEO, said Kevin Murphy, president and chief operating officer, assumed the CEO role effective April 1.

During his 15-year tenure as CEO, Reiter led Driscoll’s in advancing key strategic initiatives that have laid the foundation for Driscoll’s global growth. These include the company’s mission and focus on delighting berry consumers, its values-based organizational philosophy, and vision to guide Driscoll’s expansion in markets around the world.

Setting a new record for crop value at $1.76 billion, California’s table grape growers harvested their second-largest crop ever, sending 110 million 19-pound boxes of grapes to consumers worldwide.

Export volume and value were also the second highest in history, with 44.5 million 19-pound boxes shipped at a value of $857 million. The top volume export markets included Canada at 11.4 million 19-pound boxes, followed by Mexico at 5.7 million and China/Hong Kong at 5.5 million. Just over 40 percent of the total crop volume was exported.

Seald Sweet International is expanding its deciduous commodity division through long-term commitments and substantial financial investments, increasing production of its Mexican grape program.

Limoneira Co., a 122-year-old company based in Santa Paula, CA, announced the introduction of its Lemon Misfits, which "are packed with juice and perfect to increase our grocery retail partner’s sales with a customer friendly price point” John Carter, director of global sales, said in a press release. “They also have a lot of great health benefits as noted in a recent MSN Health

Mangos and melons are all the talk around the shop at Garden Fresh Distribution Service Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL.

As the company geared up to kick off its Guatemalan mango program in mid-March, as well as its watermelon season in April, company president Chip Jetter took some time out of his hectic day to discuss the deals with The Produce News. 

“One year it’s expensive, the next year it’s cheap — that’s just how it works!” Jetter said when asked about the mango market.

This year marks the 25th anniversary for Pompano Beach, FL-based Southern Specialties — a grower, importer, processor and shipper of a variety of specialty products grown in Central America, South America, Mexico, Canada and the United States.

“We made it!” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development, proudly told The Produce News.