Chile's fresh fruit industry continues to focus resources in the United States to maintain growth in its most important market. Each year, about 40 percent of Chile's total fruit exports are shipped to the United States. Despite early harvest delays this season, forecasts project another strong year of U.S.- bound shipments exceeding 100 million cases. Table grapes will continue to dominate volume, but increased blueberry acreage and new varieties of other fruits are generating excitement in the industry.

Chilean fruit volumes are down this winter because of very cold temperatures in Chile in the Southern Hemisphere's spring and summer months of August and September.

But, Mark Greenberg, the senior vice president and chief operating officer of Fisher Capespan, based in Gloucester City, NJ, said, "Volume is never really down. Chile always manages to ship a healthy volume. We will see volumes similar to last year, and possibly greater than last year."

Although the new year has scarcely begun, the Washington State Potato Commission is running full bore addressing issues of interest and concern to the potato industry. "One of our biggest priorities is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to further refine soil fumigation requirements," said Executive Director Chris Voigt.

"Our most recent statistics are from 2008, and 2009 reports will not be finalized and ready for release until April of this year," said Barbara Haumann, senior writer and editor for the Organic Trade Association in Greenfield, MA. "But based on the consistency of data over the past several years, we do have some insight into how the organic fresh fruit and vegetable market is faring. That information implies that fresh produce continues to be the leader compared to all other organic categories."

It will be weeks before the full economic impact of the 2010 Florida freeze is known, but losses will likely top $1 billion with every agricultural sector experiencing damage.

Florida citrus alone is a $9 billion annual industry and the state's other top agricultural revenue-generators -- greenhouse and nursery products, sugarcane and tomatoes -- all took a pounding from the recent record cold. Federally backed crop insurance is the silver lining that could mean the difference between solvency and bankruptcy for Florida growers affected by the freeze.

Keith Wilson joined Flavor Tree Fruit Co. LLC in Hanford, CA, Jan. 1 as national retail sales manager, reporting to Maurice Cameron, the firm's global sales manager.

"I am responsible for development of the domestic sales and marketing program," Mr. Wilson told The Produce News Jan. 12.