James Anthony Formisano, a lifelong member of the fresh produce industry, died Oct. 2 of liver cancer at his home in Buena, NJ. He was 64 years old.

On Oct. 22, the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market marked what is being called the first phase of an expansion project with the opening of a brand new 85,000-square-foot state-of-the-art produce and food distribution facility.

E. Armata’s extensive renovation project at the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, NY, began in April 2013. By November of the same year, the facility had been totally gutted and rebuilt from the ground up.

All Wegmans stores will be holding a "Love Kale" tasting event Saturday, Nov. 1 to highlight the vegetable's versatility, flavor and health benefits. Kale-inspired foods will be distributed throughout the store, allowing each department to feature its own kale-centric recipe, loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

For most of the past 50 years, TexaSweet Citrus Marketing Inc., the marketing and promotional arm of the Texas citrus industry since 1962, has focused on building demand and markets for its acclaimed red grapefruit and sweet oranges. But this year is different. With the new Texas citrus season upon us, the focus is on local outreach to educate consumers and backyard growers about citrus greening disease.

“All varieties of apples are currently in demand,” said Michael Strock, director of business development for S. Strock & Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA. “The old standbys; Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and McIntosh apples are moving very well. Others, however, are making big inroads, such as the Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Pink [Lady].