BONITA SPRINGS, FL -- Despite golf and fishing tournaments and a handful of family events, the 2010 Florida citrus industry annual conference held June 9- 11 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, here, was mostly work.

Bananas sourced in Central America will be in short supply at least until the end of June.

Bil Goldfield, communications manager for Dole Fresh Fruit Co. in Westlake Village, CA, on June 8 told The Produce News, "In the wake of recent natural events in Latin America, including volcano eruptions in Guatemala and Ecuador and Tropical Storm Agatha, overall banana volumes will be reduced and forecast to be tight through the remainder of June."

With a history of moving into a new season with zest and verve, 2010 is no exception for Zespri. Projecting beyond the retail trade's traditional tactics of ads and demos, the kiwifruit marketer has chosen to partner with retailers on promotions that engage consumers and direct maximum impact to the point of sale. Zespri also works with wholesalers across the country to reach independent retailers and produce stores, which are important outlets for its kiwifruit.

Bob Moore, chairman and chief executive officer of Intelligent Global Pooling Systems, based in Orlando, FL, was named by Ernst & Young as Florida's Entrepreneur of the Year in the Emerging Industries category.

Tangerines, clementines and Star Ruby grapefruit will be increasing in production for Empacadora y Procesadora Huamani S.A.C. in coming years.

The grower-packer-exporter of Peruvian citrus, asparagus and grapes is based in Pisco, which is on Peru's central coast about 180 miles south of Lima.

The possibilities are numerous for the marketing outcome of potatoes harvested this summer on the Eastern Shore.

Grower-shippers cited a variety of factors that will influence each other as the Eastern Shore plans to begin its spud harvest in late June.