On Oct. 29, the Washington Apple Commission announced the reinstatement of market access to China for Red and Golden Delicious apples. “Shipments of Washington apples to China stopped in August of 2012, when the Chinese government refused to issue import permits to Chinese importers, citing concerns with a recently discovered fungus they claimed was not in China,” the commission said in its statement.

Following two years of negotiations, three Chinese officials conducted an on-site visit in September, allaying these fears.

As seen in supermarkets, hospitals and schools across the nation, the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters brand logo helps Americans make healthy choices in every form — fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100 percent juice.

In support of Produce for Better Health Foundation's mission of motivating Americans to eat more fruit and vegetables to improve public health, PBH announced its sponsorship of a new program, the Formula 5 Marketing Competition.

With good demand and decreasing supplies, the rising lettuce market appears to have found its place above $30.

"We've had very good prices for the last 10 days to two weeks," said Denny Donovan, sales manager at Fresh Kist Produce LLC in Salinas, CA. "Salinas, Huron and Santa Maria are all winding down, so it looks like this will hold until volume picks up in the desert."

Wish Farms, a third-generation family-owned-and-op-erated business in Plant City, FL, has staked its national reputation for quality and innovation with more than 50 years of expertise under its corporate belt. Amber Kosinsky, director of marketing, said the company is one of the larger strawberry growers and processors in the eastern United States, building its reputation on the core principles of quality, integrity and responsiveness.

In addition to strawberries, Wish Farms grows and markets blueberries and some seasonal vegetables.

The strategic partnership that Weis-Buy Farms Inc. has cemented with Dominican Republic producers of colored peppers is serving the company well. With its expanded program, Owner Chuck Weisinger said the company’s colored pepper volume from the Caribbean country has tripled during the past year.

Weis-Buy is a full-service produce company headquartered in Fort Myers, FL.

Columbia Marketing International announced the appointment of Shane Marston to the sales team, effective Nov. 10.

Marston has accumulated over 20 years of experience in the produce industry specializing in retail, management, buying, and most recently selling produce. As the director of sales for the progressive produce NW Division, Shane handled over 70 percent of yearly sales. Prior to Progressive Produce, Marston was the produce director for Unified Grocers of Seattle.