The Fresh Market Inc. will expand its presence next month with a new store in Dallas, marking the company’s fifth store in the state of Texas.

With the 2014 California avocado crop finishing earlier than the year prior, Chile expecting a reduced volume of exports to the United States this fall and winter, and Mexico ramping up with what is expected to be an increase of up to 30 percent in its exports to the United States, “it’s Mexico’s time,” said Rob Wedin, vice president of fresh sales and marketing for Calavo Growers Inc., in Santa Paula, CA, in an interview with The Produce News Oct. 8.

With increased acreage, additional outside growers and additional product from licensees, Sun Pacific Marketing Cooperative Inc. is expecting to “significantly increase its supplies of Cuties” over the next year, according to Bob DiPiazza, company president.

DiPiazza sat down with The Produce News during the recent Produce Marketing Association convention and discussed the upcoming citrus season as well as the remarkable “Cuties” story. Since the company introduced Cuties California Clementines about a decade ago they have been an unqualified success.

Officials from the Pacific Northwest wrapped up another successful trade mission on Nov. 4. "The Oregon Potato Commission and the Washington State Potato Commission worked jointly to coordinate the details involved in an effort to highlight our states' potatoes in the relatively new markets [of the Philippines and Vietnam] for fresh potatoes from the Northwest," Ryan Holterhoff, WSPC director of marketing and industry affairs, told The Produce News.

TUBAC, AZ — Leaders in Mexico's produce industry indicate that they -- and their counterparts -- fully recognize that matters of social responsibility are not only morally correct, but also important to the future of their business community.

Panelists spoke about this Oct. 30 during an educational session at the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas annual convention, here Oct. 30-Nov. 1, at the historic Tubac Golf Resort, which is a 20-minute drive north of Nogales, AZ. Moderating the educational sessions was Lance Jungmeyer, FPAA president.

The inaugural Produce Marketing Association Fruittrade Latin America will kick off shortly in Santiago, Chile, through the collaboration of PMA, Fedefruta (the growers association of Chile) and Yentzen Consulting Group. The first-of-its-kind event for South America is scheduled for Nov. 12-13 and will replace both Fedefruta’s and PMA’s long-standing individual conventions in the region.