San Antonio, TX-based Desert Glory Ltd. filed a lawsuit Sept. 20 in a federal court in Tucson, AZ, alleging that a competitor copied packaging it claims to be unique and distinctive.

The lawsuit claims trademark infringement and unfair competition by Ag-Mart Produce Inc., a Florida-based distributor of fruits and vegetables doing business as Santa Sweets Inc., with packing and distribution facilities in Nogales, AZ, and elsewhere.

Naples, FL-based Naturipe Farms LLC will have limited supplies of blueberries from Argentina in September, with volumes expected to surge around early November. Brian Bocock, vice president of sales for Naturipe, told The Produce News Aug. 30 that blueberry prices likely will be high through October. Peak blueberry volume from Argentina should be from mid-November through Thanksgiving, he said. "Argentina winds down hard in December and gets into January," Mr. Bocock said.

NAPLES, FL -- While food safety remained top of mind, Florida growers, shippers and distributors of fresh produce were equally concerned with how to best market their offerings during rocky economic times when they gathered Sept. 18-21 for the 67th annual Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association convention at the Ritz-Carlton Naples, here.

While food safety had a spot on the docket, Florida producers also focused on topics like enhanced selling techniques and using social media to improve business.

WASHINGTON -- The produce industry needs to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food campaign as the Obama administration continues to put fruits and vegetables "front and center" at the USDA, Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture, said Sept. 16 at a meeting of the United Fresh Produce Association, here.

WASHINGTON -- A day after the United Fresh Produce Association's Washington Public Policy Conference wrapped up, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced the award of $55 million in specialty block grants, a 10 percent increase over last year.

Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, markets potatoes not only in cartons and bags but also in an assortment of special retail packs.

In the past, the company has offered "what we called 'Easy Steamer,'“ with 1.5 pounds of potatoes in a microwavable bag, said Kevin Stanger, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “This year we transitioned" from the “Easy Steamer” into a new one-pound microwavable product called “Microwave in Bag!” It is available in red and yellow varieties.