Temperatures in citrus-growing areas in California’s San Joaquin Valley once again dipped to potentially damaging levels the night of Dec. 10 and early morning of Dec. 11. That made seven nights out of eight that temperatures were low enough to cause concern, and the cumulative effect, in spite of frost-protection measures, could now mean that there is some fairly extensive damage.

GARY LINKLETTER was re-elected chairman of the P.E.I. Potato Board at the group’s Dec. 5 board of directors meeting. Linkletter is currently serving his second three-year term representing the tablestock sector for the Summerside District. He is a partner in Linkletter Farms, a family farm operation that grows seed, table and processing potatoes.

Heeren Bros. Inc. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 11. to celebrate the opening of its new $22 million state-of-the-art facility in Alpine Township, MI, and state legislators, township officials, contractors, vendors and neighbors toured Heeren's new 178,000-square-foot facility.

On the first workday of the new year, James (Jim) Bair will step into his newly appointed position as president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Apple Association, headquartered in Vienna, VA.

About 90 years ago, farmers around Plant City, FL, located midway between Tampa and Orlando, discovered that the sandy soil within a 30-mile radius produced exceptional strawberries. An industry was born and in short order Florida was providing 95 percent of the U.S. winter strawberry supply.

The opening cocktail reception of the 2013 New York Produce Show & Conference drew a large and enthusiastic crowd Tuesday evening, Dec. 10, at the New York Hilton, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The trade show floor opened up Wednesday, Dec. 11.

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