Frieda's, a leading marketer of specialty produce, based in Los Alamitos, CA, is now offering two specialty artichoke varieties, the Sangria and the Fiore Viola.

The Hass Avocado Board, the Irvine, CA-based organization that promotes the consumption of Hass avocados in the United States, is scheduling its annual board elections for vacant domestic Hass avocado grower and Hass avocado importer members as well as alternate seats.

Sun World International LLC has appointed three new grape marketer licensees — Giuliano Puglia Fruit of Puglia, Italy; Exportadora Santa Elena S.A. of Colina, Chile; and GESEX S.A. of Buin, Chile — to distribute the California company’s licensed grapes.

The appointments bring Sun World’s total marketer network to 32 grape companies and 22 stone fruit companies in 12 countries.

Giumarra Nogales is currently shipping its west Mexico watermelon program and kicked off the spring season three weeks earlier than last year.

The early time frame is attributed to earlier transplanting, improved growing practices and ideal weather conditions.

In 1898, a packet of Bermuda onion seeds was planted near Cotulla, TX. In spring of 1899, the resulting crop was shipped to Milwaukee, WI, and the mild, sweet onions were an instant hit. The next year a larger crop was planted and an industry was born.

Onions caught on quickly in the hot, dry climate. By 1904, 500 acres of Bermuda onions were planted in south Texas. In 1907, 1,011 train carloads of onions were shipped out of state. The next year, production doubled. In 1917 that figure leapt to 6,735 loads and by 1920 Texas had virtually put Bermuda out of the onion business.

“We absolutely see the tropical arena as a major growth area, and for several reasons,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News. “The first reason is that tropical fruit offers outstanding flavor, and people respond to great taste. Tropicals are also more widely available [to North American consumers] than at any time in the past.