Sev-Rend Corp., a Collinsville, IL-based manufacturer of high-performance packaging solutions, will unveil a new product at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit international convention and exposition that addresses a variety of food-safety challenges with a single solution.

BioSafe Systems, a provider of crop protection and food-safety solutions headquartered in East Hartford, CT, will be featuring its new FogTunnel produce treatment system and the comprehensive "Field to Fork" food-safety program at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit Oct. 15-18 in Orlando, FL.

The nearly continual daisy-chain of tropical weather systems that has moved across the Atlantic Ocean this summer has held Central American producers at full attention.

Tropical Storm Alex hit central Belize June 27, bringing severe thunderstorms and winds of 40-60 mph.

Tropical Storm Karl hit northern Belize Sept. 15, delivering severe thunderstorms and winds of 40-60 mph. Karl later turned into a Category 3 hurricane before hitting Veracruz, Mexico.

AR-Cal Distributing in Arvin, CA, has taken over as the exclusive North American sales agent for the Maui Gold pineapple, which is now being grown and packed by the Haliimaile Pineapple Co. Ltd. in Halliimaile, HI.

AR-Cal is the marketing and distribution arm of Trino Packing & Cold Storage Inc., which is also headquartered in Arvin and owned by longtime produce industry veteran John Trino.

Things will be very "pink" at Dan Graiff Farms LLC in Newfield, NJ, during the month of October.

“We are switching our boxes to pink '5 Star' logos to raise money for breast cancer research during the month,” Jamie Graiff, co-owner of the company told The Produce News. “The breast cancer pink ribbon logo is printed on an insert that will go into every box thanking our customers for their purchase, explaining our breast cancer research fundraiser and advising them of where they can send their own donations if they want.”

The relatively cool summer in Southern California has helped extend the California avocado season this year, and the California Avocado Commission is actively promoting the late-season fruit while gearing up its plans for 2011.

CAC will share the latest avocado category data demonstrating the value of the California season and unveil key aspects of the commission's marketing support plans at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit expo.