Early-season disease pressures meant many Florida strawberry farmers had to replant much of their crop, but unseasonably warm weather — even by Sunshine State standards — has helped the deal catch up and approach full volume in its traditional mid-December window.

Sanfillipo Produce Co. Inc., a Columbus, OH-based produce distributor, has purchased Macaluso Fruit Co., also located in Columbus. The deal closed Dec. 6 and Sanfillipo will take possession Jan. 1. Additionally, the Sanfillipo family purchased the Columbus Produce Terminal Market.

The Sanfillipo family started in the produce business in Columbus in 1899. Macaluso Fruit was founded more than a century ago.

Mann Packing Co. is launching seasonal fresh vegetable trays to meet consumer demand for convenient entertaining products during the holidays and on through Super Bowl Sunday.

DMA Solutions Inc., a leading marketing agency in the fresh produce industry, has created the 2014 Produce Marketer’s Master Calendar featuring important and helpful dates that produce marketers need to know as they plan their event and communications strategies for the new year. The calendar is currently available for free download on dma-solutions.com.

There are mixed opinions as to how much acreage has been planted this year in vegetables and tomatoes for export to the United States, but there does seem to be a fairly wide-spread consensus that volume will be slower coming on than normal because of weather-related planting delays and the necessity for some re-planting of fields that were damaged by heavy rains shortly after planting.

Indianapolis Fruit Co. Inc., a leading provider of fresh produce and related products and services, announced the appointment of Greg Corsaro as president, effective Jan. 1, 2014.