Longtime melon grower Central American Produce announced the arrival of its first shipments of seedless watermelons and hard squash from Guatemala.

Randall Onstead will step down as Bi-Lo’s president and chief executive officer, effective March 1. Additionally, Mark Prestidge, executive vice president and chief operating officer, resigned on Dec. 31. Associates were notified of Onstead's departure last week.

According to Brian Wright, vice president of communications and government relations, a new president and CEO has been identified, but at this point Bi-Lo is not naming Onstead's successor. 

During the last week of December, six nights of cold weather swept through the San Joaquin Valley, but temperatures did not fall low enough to produce any significant damage to the California citrus crop.

However, that same cold front did pass through the desert vegetable production regions, delaying harvest each morning and limiting supplies as a result.

Citrus prices have remained stable but the f.o.b. price on many vegetable items is climbing because of decreased supplies. The supply situation could remain unstable for most of January.

WASHINGTON — Immigration reform and child nutrition legislation top the congressional agenda for the produce industry, but it’s far from clear how the newly minted Congress will handle these issues in 2015.

Cutrale-Safra has completed its acquisition of Chiquita. Additionally, there has been a leadership change: Brian Kocher, chief operating officer of Chiquita, has assumed the position of interim chief executive officer, succeeding Ed Lonergan. Rick Frier, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will be exiting the company as well.

"We are proud of the success of Chiquita's 'return to the core' strategic plan, thank Cutrale-Safra for their support in this transition, and wish them long term success with this great company and team," Lonergan said in a press release.

Kingston Fresh, based in Idaho Falls, ID, announced that its first shipments of fresh Peruvian mangos are scheduled to arrive into South Florida ports during the week of Jan. 12.

“In general, mango supplies in the U.S. are extremely light at the moment and, as a result, demand is very strong,” Kingston Fresh President Ken Nabal said in a press release. “We expect the volume from Peru to be reduced as much as 40 percent, which is very similar to Ecuador’s crop shortfall experienced this past season.