In early December, the San Joaquin Valley citrus industry was hit with seven consecutive nights of subfreezing temperatures. The event may have concluded in mid-December, but the industry's battle against Mother Nature continued through early January.

Seven Seas New Jersey, a division of the Tom Lange Co., announced the debut of a Moroccan clementine program in the United States featuring the Seven Seas "Clementines So Sweet" brand.

Black Gold Farms is expanding its red potato promotional program, Better With Reds, to include season-specific campaigns. Each campaign will highlight the many benefits of red potatoes, and focus on what is relevant for that particular time of the year.

The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans, also known as the Georgia Pecan Commission, announced the establishment of the Center for Pecan Innovation to find new uses for pecans.

Kingston Fresh announced the addition of Chilean grapes to its growing imports portfolio. The Idaho Falls, ID-based company is scheduled to receive its first arrivals in early February into the Philadelphia ports, which positions it to service key customers on the Eastern Seaboard and Midwest markets.

“We have a great group of highly talented people here, and they keep their finger pressed tightly on the pulse of what’s going on when it comes to supplies,” Mike Badalament, sales associate for Ram Produce Distributors LLC, located at the Detroit Terminal Market, told The Produce News in mid-January. “When there are problems in Florida, California or any other areas we source from, we’re fully in the know and take the necessary steps to insure that we have high-quality product for our customers.”