In a dynamic, first-of-its-kind partnership, North Carolina State University at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis and Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, joined forces for the N.C. Strawberry Project.

Agriculture continues to grow and is an ever-increasing part of North Carolina's economy, a new study shows. Meanwhile, South Carolina peach producers are preparing for a bountiful and perfectly timed summer crop that should hit its peak in July, along with domestic top 10 production of greens, tomatoes and watermelon.

Steve Junqueiro, president and chief operating officer of Save Mart Supermarkets, was recently elected 2013-14 chairman and president of the Western Association of Food Chains at the organization’s 92nd annual convention, held at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, CA.

Mr. Junqueiro was previously the vice president of WAFC and has been involved with various other industry organizations throughout his career, including the Produce Marketing Association, the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the Food Marketing Institute.

Loop Fresh Produce in McAllen, TX, and the Allen Lund Co., headquartered in La Cañada, CA, are several months into a new alliance to meet the needs of mutual customers shipping product from south Texas, and by all accounts the program has been a rousing success.

TORONTO — The 2013 CPMA Convention and Trade Show in Toronto marked the end of Jim DiMenna’s term as chairman of the association

This season, New Zealand's pipfruit producers will infuse global markets with increased tonnage for apples and pears.

"We anticipate our export volume to be just under 17 million cartons or just over 305,000 tons," Alan Pollard, chief executive officer of Pipfruit New Zealand Inc., told The Produce News. "This would represent an increase of 6 percent over 2012. Production acreage is approximately 1 percent more than in 2012."