“We are excited to begin harvesting Chinese eggplant grown on our farm in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, with our production season starting in December and running through May,” said Marc Holbik, director of grower relations for Ecoripe Tropicals in Medley, FL. “This variety of specialty eggplant is less bitter with a very thin edible skin and an elongated shape.”

Ecoripe Tropicals’ Chinese eggplant is packed in 30-pound boxes, 48 boxes to a pallet. When stored at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the product has a shelf life of 14 days from the farm.

Baja Son Growers, one the older growers of asparagus from Mexicali and Caborca, Mexico, recently launched a new website to showcase its growth and presence as one of the major grower-packer-shippers of asparagus coming from Mexico. According to a company press release, the website marks its presence as a growing trade brand that began back in 1950, and continues to this day.

Walmart Stores Inc. announced that Judith McKenna has been promoted to chief operating officer for Walmart U.S. McKenna succeeds Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed executive vice president of Walmart’s International people division.

McKenna will assume her responsibilities immediately and will continue to report directly to Greg Foran, Walmart U.S. president and chief executive officer. Ruiz will also assume her responsibilities immediately and will report to David Cheesewright, Walmart International president and chief executive officer.

Dragonberry Produce celebrated its 10th anniversary with style and elegance at the River Place Hotel in Portland, OR, Dec. 6. “The intimate event was a small gathering of favorite friends, family, growers, customers and vendors,” Founder Amy Nguyen told The Produce News. “I took this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for the successful partnerships we have built in the last 10 years. These people believed in Dragonberry and invested in us.

Years of reported infighting came to a head June 23, when Market Basket's board of directors fired Arthur T. Demoulas, president and chief executive officer. Weeks of employee and customer protests brought him back into the fold, and now he has completed his acquisition of the company.

Demoulas and his family announced that as of 1 p.m. Dec. 12, they have completed the purchase of the 50.5 percent of the Demoulas Supermarkets Inc. that they did not previously own, and now have 100 percent ownership of the Market Basket grocery store chain.

Aaron and Derek Johnson, who farm potatoes near Grand Forks, ND, will be sentenced in federal court on March 9 following their conviction on felony counts of conspiracy and making false statements to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency and law enforcement officials. A unanimous jury returned the guilty verdict in Fargo, ND, Dec. 11 after five hours of deliberation.

Tried as individuals, each brother could face up to 20 years prison time.