“We will be unveiling a new look and updated brand positioning platform for the company at the PMA Fresh Summit in October,” said Pete Wilder, marketing director for To-Jo Mushroom Inc. in Avondale, PA. “Our refreshed marketing strategy centers around a new theme that’s creative and intriguing while keeping deep roots to the farm and our owners, Tony and Joe D’Amico. But visitors will have to come to our booth — No. 1210 — to see it in person.”

SNOW HILL, NC — The family firm, begun with 200 acres in 1975, is now 13,000 acres and growing “by leaps and bounds,” said Stacy Ham, vice president of Ham Produce Co., here. It now reaches from eastern North Carolina to a new pack and ship facility at Live Oak in northern Florida. It can store more than 13 million bushels of climate-controlled sweet potatoes.

Giumarra Cos., based in Los Angeles, announced that it has redesigned its consumer brand, "Nature's Partner." The company will debut the new brand in October for its fall and winter products, including Argentinean blueberries and Mexican melons.

"Nature's Partner" was founded in 2003 as a unifying brand under which Giumarra's family of growers could pack their produce. The founding tenets of the brand include Italian heritage, family values, growing expertise and high-quality products.

PURE Bioscience Inc. of El Cajon, CA, has already seen excellent results with its patented antimicrobial agent silver dihydrogen citrate for use in direct contact cleaning in restaurants and food processing facilities. On Oct. 9 the company filed a food contact notification with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to use SDC as a prewash on fresh produce that could eliminate bacteria a hundredfold above current methodology.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its initial forecast for 2014-15, pegging the orange crop at 108 million boxes, up from last season's total of 104.4 million.

Early-mid varieties accounted for 52 million boxes, while Valencias came in at 56 million boxes.

"This is a positive number as the Florida citrus grower continues to battle citrus greening disease," Michael W. Sparks, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, said in a press release. "It's been a tight few years for production and 2014-15 is no different."

In order to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer, all Big Y Supermarkets will be donating proceeds from their entire produce department as well as additional select products throughout the store to over 22 local breast cancer support groups throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Since 2007, the chain has raised close to $1.1million dollars for this cause. The program, "Partners of Hope," reflects the partnership, commitment and support of breast cancer awareness and research that is so vital for many. Last year, Big Y raised close to $218,000.