Cool weather has delayed or slowed watermelon production in the southern United States and consumption in northern states, but steady supplies from farther south have been adequate to meet demand as the Florida and Texas deals come on in earnest this month.

WeatherBug is forecasting a summer season similar to 2012 for much of the continental United States. For summer 2013, it indicated a distinct threat for above-normal temperatures from west Texas across the Great Plains into the central and Southern Rockies, and across the Mid-South. Areas around the Great Lakes and the Southeast coast should favor near-normal seasonal temperatures. Only one small pocket of slightly cooler-than-normal conditions is expected along the coast of the Pacific Northwest.

Responding to strong consumer demand for vegetable salads that taste great and are packed with nutrient-dense superfoods, Apio Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Landec Corp. and a leading national producer of fresh-cut vegetable products, is introducing its new Eat Smart ginger bok choy vegetable salad kit.

BOSTON — The New England Produce Council's 14th annual expo was marked by a strong retail presence, a varied trade show and a keynote speech by a baseball hero.

Paul Kneeland, vice president of produce, floral and seafood for Kings Supermarkets, will now add management of the meat department to his responsibilities. He has been with the company since 2007.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council, which pioneered the concept of regional trade shows more than 25 years ago, is holding its Northern California Expo today at the Alameda Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. As in the previous years, this year's show is a sell-out.

The all-day event differs a bit from its Southern California Expo counterpart held in July, as today's Expo is strictly a trade show with no additional programming.