“There is considerably more interest in organic mushrooms today, and sales continue to grow,” Kevin Donovan, national sales manager for Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA, told The Produce News. “We’ll therefore be promoting them again strongly at our booth, number 205, at the Southern Exposure expo.”

Though onion market conditions were less than optimal in late January, Murakami Produce General Manager Grant Kitamura said his Ontario, OR-based company continues to provide its customers with excellent quality in Spanish Sweets, and he said business has remained brisk.

“Our product is very well-received,” Kitamura said, adding that the operation has good supplies and is handling its long-term commitments.

Douglas Kling, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Village Farms LP, headquartered in Heathrow, FL, told The Produce News that the company will continue to feature its exclusive “Heavenly Villagio Marzano,” tomato, an authentic mini San Marzano tomato which is exclusive to Village Farms, at the 2015 Southern Exposure Conference & Expo at the Caribe Royale All Suite Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, FL, on Feb. 26-28.

Fresh produce industry leaders from the United States and Mexico met Feb. 11 in Mexico City to formalize the International Fruit & Vegetable Alliance for Social Responsibility, also known by its Spanish acronym AHIFORES. As a demonstration of support for the new organization, Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture Enrique Martinez y Martinez hosted the members of the alliance and appointed Under Secretary of Agriculture Jesus Aguilar as his liaison with the organization.

Potandon Produce LLC, an industry leader in fresh potato marketing, hired Glen Reynolds as a director of business development.

Reynolds comes to Potandon bringing a wealth of experience in both the fresh potato industry and retail sales and marketing. Additionally he has extensive experience in strategic planning, merchandising and is focused on logistics and supply chain efficiencies.

As a response to intermittent work slowdowns during labor negotiations at West Coast ports, the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping lines and terminal operators, is refusing to pay overtime to longshoremen this holiday weekend. The move effectively closes the ports for four out of five days, beginning Thursday, Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s birthday, which is a port holiday) and continuing through the weekend.

The move is the association’s response to what it claims are union work stoppages and slowdowns that have caused crippling delays and devastating economic losses.