The mushroom industry held the 23rd North American Mushroom Conference Jan. 22-24 at the Intercontinental Resort & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The mushroom farm community, currently embracing the success and preparing for the strong sales potential of the meat and mushroom blend, had much to celebrate and share throughout the conference.

NOGALES, AZ — As February rolled around, organic Mexican vegetable markets were “coming off,” Steve LeFevre, sales manager for Wholesum Family Farms, based here, told The Produce News Jan. 30. The movement had been “backed up by high prices. This will take a couple of weeks to settle,” he indicated.

In mid-January, organic Mexican vegetable supplies were down and demand pushed high prices for all products in this category except for red Bell peppers.

LINKFRESH Inc., a leading provider of supply chain ERP solutions designed specifically for the fresh food industry, announced that the Nogales, AZ-based organic fruit and vegetable producer Wholesum Family Farms Inc. will deploy its Microsoft Dynamics NAV LINKFRESH ERP solution.

The 40-user solution will be deployed across four sites in the United States and Mexico and will include the newest LINKFRESH modules for Foundation, Supply Chain, Operations, Logistics and Farming.

NOGALES, AZ – Because of short supplies, high Mexican watermelon markets can be expected until mid- or late March, according to Chuy Lopez, president of Big Chuy Distributors & Sons Inc., here.  

Because cold weather after Christmas affected production, acreage and volume was down, he said Jan. 20.

“Markets have been in the mid- to high 40s,” in cents per pound. In March and April, watermelon prices should decline as a new crop comes into production, he said.  

Vega Produce LLC announced the hire of Don Hood as its national retail business development manager.

Jason M. Lazor, senior regional marketing manager at Kroger’s corporate office, died Feb. 7 as a result of an accident while camping. He was 36.