Charles Walker, executive secretary of the U.S. Sweet Potato Council, told The Produce News Oct. 1 that although sweet potato harvesting is underway across the country, it will be some time before official crop figures are available.

Plain Jane Produce, a leading North American greenhouse vegetable grower and supplier, has begun a new greenhouse operation in Nayarit, Mexico, with plans to expand acreage tenfold in the next two years.

According to an Oct. 5 press release, the company will open 25 covered acres in Nayarit this month with plans to expand the facility to 250 covered acres over the next two years. New operations in Nayarit will allow Plain Jane to offer freshly harvested tomatoes to the market during the fall growing season, September through January.

FRESNO, CA — A 14-year legal challenge to the constitutionality of the state law establishing the California Table Grape Commission was resolved Oct. 5 in favor of the commission when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower-court ruling.

The plaintiffs who filed the original complaint have contended that the law establishing the commission and authorizing its programs was in violation of the First Amendment, but the U.S. Court of Appeals in November 2009 upheld an earlier U.S. District Court ruling rejecting the First Amendment challenge.

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Market Fresh Produce LLC in Nixa, MO, and Bushmans' Inc. in Rosholt, WI, announced that they have merged, effective Oct. 1, with the goal of creating best-in-class efficiencies within the produce industry.

Steven Phipps, owner and chief executive officer of Market Fresh Produce, told The Produce News Oct. 6 that the merger brings together two strong and vibrant companies, and that it unites the "Market Fresh" brand with a century-old corporation.

Washington's tree fruit industry is mourning the death of Gladwin Bellamy Jr., president of Columbia Marketing International in Wenatchee, WA, who died unexpectedly Oct. 1. Mr. Bellamy, known to his friends and co-workers as Glady, was 58.