It’s fitting that the National Watermelon Association will celebrate its 100th birthday in the state where it all began in 1914 — Georgia.

One hundred years ago, a group of watermelon growers met in Atlanta for an organizational meeting about the best ways to get their crop to market. Exactly a century later, their descendants will return to celebrate the unimagined success of the NWA.

“We currently have good volumes of asparagus from the Caborca region of Mexico,” said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, a leading grower, importer and distributor of specialty produce, in an interview with The Produce News Jan. 21. “We’re loading the asparagus in San Luis, Mexico. Promotional volumes will be available in February and March.”

Caborca is both a municipality and a municipal seat in the Mexican state of Sonora.

Del Mar, based in Westley, CA, added Anthony Wright to its sales team.

In his new position at Del Mar, Wright is responsible for selling cantaloupes, honeydews, hami melons, Roma tomatoes and apricots.

Wright first got involved in the produce industry through the help of his brother, Brian Wright, who also works at Del Mar. Prior to joining the company, Wright worked for three years at Denair Lumber in Riverbank, CA, and for 13 years at Keith Brown Building Materials in Empire, CA.

Wright currently resides in Modesto, CA, with his wife and their newborn child.

The Fresh Solutions Network LLC board of directors announced that Sherrie L. Terry, president and chief executive officer, will be leaving the company, effective March 1, to establish an independent consulting company.

Your customer is sitting on her couch on Sunday afternoon. The fridge is empty and the pantry is bare. Any other Sunday, she would jump in the car and drive to your store, but not today. Her spouse is out of town, she hurt her back and the kids are in need of a nap.

Today, she is going to place her first online grocery order. She jumps on Facebook and asks friends if they have recommendations for grocers with online ordering and home delivery. With three suggestions in hand, she starts browsing grocery stores to place an online order, including the store where she always shops.

“There are multiple ways the Culinary Institute of America works together with its produce industry partners to increase the use of fresh produce on foodservice menus,” Susan Renke, director of corporate relations and strategic initiatives for the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, CA, told The Produce News.