Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, one of the nation’s larger pistachio processors, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, luncheon and facilities tour Friday, July 15 to formally unveil a recently completed solar power system at its processing facility in Terra Bella, CA. The combined 1.7-megawatt solar power system is believed to be the largest solar power system in California’s Central Valley. The event was announced in a press release dated July 13.

Atlas Produce & Distributing Inc. in Bakersfield, CA, which specializes in California-grown Medjool dates marketed under the “Caramel Naturel” label, has introduced a new consumer pack to its product line.

“We added an eight-ounce pack this year” in a clamshell style, said Robert Dobrzanski, president and sales manager.

Paramount Farms Inc., which is headquartered in Los Angeles with farming operations and processing facilities centered in Lost Hills, CA, is one of the the larger growers and processors of California almonds and pistachios. The company markets California pistachios worldwide under the “Wonderful Pistachios” brand, offering a “wide range of packaged and in-shell varieties,” according to a company press release dated Sept. 1.

Aurora Products Inc. in Stratford, CT, is introducing two new trail mix varieties “to appeal to consumers’ varied tastes,” according to a company press release dated July 25. “Consumers now seek trail mixes with unique flavors and textures that provide a healthy sensory experience,” the release stated. The two new mixes, “Aurora Natural Crunchy Asian” and “Aurora Natural Red, White and Blue” have been formulated to “satisfy heightened taste buds and more attuned palates.”

SunDate in Coachella, CA, is vertically integrated in the sense that the majority of the dates the company packs and markets are “our own fruit,” according to D.J. Ryan, sales manager.

“We are involved in every step of the growing and harvesting and — cone it is brought into the packinghouse — the sorting, processing, packing and shipping. So w control every aspect of it, which allows us to maintain a level of quality control” that would be more difficult if they were “dealing with a lot of outside growers.”

A California Court of Appeals reversed an earlier Superior Court decision thereby abandoning a $12 million judgment that Fresh Express Inc. had received against an insurance carrier to recover losses resulting from the 2006 E. coli outbreak associated with fresh spinach.

A three-judge panel ruled Sept. 8 that the Monterey County Superior Court had erred in interpreting the recall insurance policy that Salinas, CA-based Fresh Express had in place at the time with Lloyds of London.