Virgil E. Rasmussen, longtime president of Ballantine Produce Co. in Sanger, CA, and former board member and chairman of several table grape and tree fruit industry organizations, died peacefully at his Sanger home Sunday, Nov. 18. He was 94.

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., a grower-owned agricultural cooperative based in Lakeville-Middleboro, MA, released its fiscal 2012 financial results, which included the highest net sales in the company's history and strong growth in net proceeds paid to its growers.

Highlights of the 2012 fiscal year ending Aug 31 include the following:

Giumarra International Berry is preparing for the upcoming import blueberry season and expects increased volumes from the 2011-12 season.

“The Florida heirloom tomato deal will be starting soon,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, told The Produce News on Oct. 17. “Our ‘Southern Selects’ brand of heirloom tomatoes are packed in single layer variety packs. We ship three varieties to each box, and each variety is selected for its flavor and color.”

“We’re harvesting a few cucumbers and some squash in Central Florida now,” Calvert Cullen, co-owner of Northampton Growers, headquartered in Cheriton, VA, told The Produce News on Oct. 19. “If we don’t have any freeze issues or other weather problems, we’ll plunge forward and go all the way into next spring in Florida.”

He added that the company will start moving peppers in South Florida around Dec. 10-15.

As of mid-October, conditions in Florida seemed to be good, but Mr. Cullen said that anything can happen when growing field vegetables.

After months of denying otherwise, Lakeland, FL-based Publix Super Markets Inc. has moved into North Carolina. The move comes as the company reports soaring profits and other retailers are stepping up their presence in Publix’s home state.

Publix had more than 1,000 grocery stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee before opening its first North Carolina location near Charlotte last month.