Shipments of Florida strawberries began in mid-November in a light way with much greater volume expected by the week of Dec. 8, which is right on target, according to Kenneth Parker of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.

“We typically run from November through March,” said the association’s newly appointed executive director, adding that the crop can also be harvested and shipped into April if market conditions warrant it.

FAISON, NC — It’s a delicious and healthful Muscadine smoothie drink, called JuVn8, five years and millions of dollars in the making, coming soon to a grocery store near you — Ron Cottle hopes.

Vick Family Farms met its ambitious goal to sell 50,000 boxes of sweet potatoes in special pink Breast Cancer Awareness cartons in October to benefit a local breast cancer project. October was Breast Cancer Awareness month.

“We say ‘Light Up Your Holiday Meals’ with New York state-grown apples,” said Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association, headquartered in Fishers, NY. “And we do highlight the three holidays — Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas — by providing great recipes to anyone who visits our website, nyapplecountry.com, and clicks on the ‘recipes’ link on the menu bar.”

“We are looking forward to exhibiting at the new wing of the Javits Center in New York City in December,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News. “We have exhibited at every show since it began; at the Hilton Hotel and at Pier 94. We now look forward to exhibiting at the new Javits’ venue.”

Eagle will be joined at the show to greet visitors by Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Geno Valdes, and Key Account Manager, Tracey Monahan.

“The New York Produce Show is a great show for our business in the Northeast,” said Anthony M. DeAngelis, director, northeast division for Christopher Ranch LLC, which is headquartered in Gilroy, CA.

“And it offers us a great opportunity to meet with our customers and buyers who are served through our New Jersey facility,” he continued. “The show always has great traffic and is well-attended by the type of customers with whom we seek to continue to increase our business in the Northeast and nationally.”