The chief executive officers for the United Fresh Produce Association and the Food Marketing Institute announced a plan to hold their conventions jointly in Chicago during the month of June for at least the next three years.

The two organizations have co-located their conventions before, and United Fresh President Tom Stenzel said the partnership will help United Fresh get past the typical buy-sell relationship that occurs at conventions and move toward a top-to-top connection, referring to the top level retail executives that typically attend the FMI show.

Turbana Corp. is partnering again this fall with its retail partner, Price Chopper, for the Pink Ribbon Produce campaign to educate consumers on healthy eating habits and living active lifestyles while also raising funds for breast cancer research and awareness.

It is amazing that Texas growers can produce premium citrus in the heart of the second-worst drought in state history, but this season's crop promises to be on-target in terms of quality and volume as the season ramps up in October.

Stellar Distributing of Madera, CA, is a leading importer of Italian and Chilean kiwifruit with conventional and organic California kiwifruit. Now they’ve added a kids’ kiwifruit program to promote healthy eating among children.

The 2013 California kiwifruit crop “looks to be down from last year, probably about 10 to 15 percent,” both for the company and for the industry, Chris Kragie, deciduous fruit manager at Madera, CA-based Western Fresh Marketing, said in an interview with The Produce News Sept. 13.

Sunkist Growers, based in Sherman Oaks, CA, is ushering in its 2013-14 citrus season at PMA Fresh Summit, promoting its full line of offerings at the trade show in New Orleans.