Though it is considered a staple product and doesn’t generate an extreme amount of excitement, carrot sales have garnered considerable growth during the past year and are actually in the midst of a pretty good five-year run.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the keynote speaker at a new joint general session hosted by the United Fresh Produce Association and the Food Marketing Institute this June in Chicago.

“We are honored to have Secretary Clinton as our keynote speaker for this very special event,” Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president and chief executive officer, said in a press release.

Eclipse Berry Farms LLC in Los Angeles, which is in the strawberry business year-round with production in California and Mexico, has expanded its California program this year with production in the Santa Maria district.

“This is the first year we have been in Santa Maria,” said Stuart Gilfenbain, who handles sales at Eclipse along with Rick Hearst and Ashley Chavira.

RIO RICO, AZ — Fruit sales in Japan are notorious for moving perfect fruit at outrageously high prices.

MAS Melons & Grapes LLC, located here, has met the challenge of selling honeydew to Japan. The process of meeting Japanese Brix requirements has opened other doors.

MAS is an acronym using the initials of the company’s 52 percent owner: Miguel Angel Suarez. In Spanish, the word “mas” means “more.” Suarez is best known by his nickname, “Miky.”

Suarez launched MAS with four Mexican grower-partners 17 years ago.

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. announced that one of its North America subsidiaries acquired approximately 2,620 acres of agricultural production land located Northwest of Palm Beach, FL.

ORLANDO, FL — A record number of attendees and exhibitors took over the Caribe Royale Resort & Conference Center, here, Feb. 27 to March 1 for the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure trade show.

Almost 1,800 attendees packed Southern Exposure events, from an opening golf tournament to the Feb. 28 circus-themed gala to the keynote address from legendary NFL coach and CBS Sports commentator Bill Cowher to the bustling March 1 tradeshow.