Numerous factors have created a nationwide truck shortage and higher freight rates, with the impact being especially acute in California because of new state regulations on reefer emissions.

Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association sent out an advisory to its members in late June stating that rates were already climbing.

A second round of testing for a "green" Michigan celery-shipping carton will begin July 15.

Gary Wruble, general manager of the Michigan Celery Cooperative Inc., headquartered in Hudsonville, MI, told The Produce News June 25, “We have spent a fair bit of time looking at packaging for the fresh product” to boost that industry by developing a recyclable carton. A first round of testing has been completed. With the July 2010 testing, “we will walk with this to make sure it works.” If so, “we will really launch it in 2011.”

A new face on the sales team, two new growers in the "family," new packaging and a doubling of organic onion volume make up a portion of news out of Sweet Clover Produce's Walla Walla, WA, office.

In a June 28 interview, Sales Manager Bill (Sweet Willie) Brownfield told The Produce News that Walla Walla Sweet onions were shipping, and new-crop yellows, reds, whites and Sweet Clover Sweets would begin shipping around the week of July 19.

VERO BEACH, FL -- Seald Sweet International announced July 9 a new placement of executive leadership to the company's chief financial officer position, which is soon to be vacated by a promotion within the organization's parent company, Belgium- based UNIVEG Group.

Gary J. Collins has been appointed as Seald Sweet's CFO, succeeding Vitor Figueiredo. In line with the company's strategy of promoting within, Mr. Figueiredo is slated to take over the helm as managing director of UNIVEG Portugal in October.

With its Fourth of July weekend ad, Michigan-based Spartan Stores kicked off its summer-long Michigan's Best promotion to support locally grown produce, flowers and other products.

In the produce and floral departments, according to Steve Wright, the retailer's produce and floral procurement manager, more than 300 products will be involved.

Because of a slow start to the Mexican mango deal back in February and March, the 2010 production figures have been chasing the 2009 numbers all season. But in early July, total production for this season surpassed last year, and with good supplies expected during the latter part of the season, this could be one of the top production years in recent memory.

"We are definitely going to beat last year," said Gary Clevenger, co-owner of Freska Produce International LLC in Oxnard, CA.