EDINBURG, TX -- Frontera Produce Ltd., a vertically integrated grower, packer and shipper of fresh produce headquartered here in south Texas, announced Dec. 21 that it plans to pack a record number of cases of its MD2 Golden variety pineapples from Mexico to market from January through July.

The year 2009 has been "a historic year in the garlic industry" with a demand-exceeds-supply situation that has pushed prices for both domestic and imported product to higher levels than anyone has seen in a long time, according to Jim Provost, president of I Love Produce, a grower, importer and marketer of fresh garlic, ginger and specialty produce based in West Grove, PA.

ORLANDO, FL -- CHEP announced Dec. 22 the signing of a multi-year contract with Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., a subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., for pallet pooling services in support of the company's banana and melon divisions.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association will help promote the Canadian produce industry to the world by organizing the first Canadian pavilion at the 2010 Fruit Logistica trade show, the largest show in the produce industry, Feb. 3-5 in Berlin.

WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Research & Education Foundation will present a one-day post-show conference on produce sustainability April 23 at the Palazzo Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The conference will immediately follow United 2010, the organization's conference and trade show, scheduled for April 19-23, also in Las Vegas.

SANTIAGO, CHILE -- Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Navel orange imports from Chile last year, that country's ample crop has helped to increase imports of all oranges by the United States 35 percent this season to date, according to USDA Market News in early November.

Future shipments of Navels from Chile are expected to account for 25 percent of orange imports by the United States. Other countries that help make up the remainder of the import volume are Australia, South Africa, Spain, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.