New Frontiers Natural Marketplace and Whole Foods Market Inc. announced that Whole Foods Market will purchase four stores from New Frontiers.

Consistent quality, supply and service over time are keys to building a true brand. When these healthy brand “roots” are in place, consumers begin to view a brand positively, enabling the brand to roll out new offerings. A brand’s growth happens because of healthy roots, including quality, supply and service.

It’s easy to make a comparison with how healthy tree rootstock is used by fruit and nut growers to establish superior orchards.

The Second meeting of the International Pineapple Organization Global Pineapple Conference March 19-20, hosted by the Port Tampa Bay and sponsored by Ports America & CSX Railroad, was an opportunity to showcase the expansion plans and the interest by Port Tampa Bay and its partners. Among the Port Tampa Bay’s plans is a multimodal refrigerated Rail Trans shipment project that is currently in its design stage.

Representatives committed to the success of South Africa’s summer citrus export program to the United States gathered in the heart of one of South Africa’s citrus-growing regions in late March. The annual planning session included growers, exporters, U.S.-based importers, shipping partners, receivers and service providers, and government representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, as well as Vangile Titi-Msumza, South Africa Minister of Agriculture to the U.S., and Erica Barks- Ruggles, the U.S.

The board of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council has approved charitable contributions for 2014 totaling $24,200.

The largest contribution was made to United's Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative. The council's $11,300 donation will provide for four salad bars to be installed in California schools. Contributions the FPFC made in 2012 and 2013 provided for 16 salad bars.

With production in Mexico and three California districts, Eclipse Berry Farms LLC in Los Angeles is in the strawberry business every day of the year, according to Suart Gilfenbain, a salesman with the company.

In California, Eclipse grows strawberries in Oxnard, Santa Maria and Watsonville. The Santa Maria program, which consists of 300 acres of Albion and Monterey strawberries, is new this year.