With March bringing record rainfall to many parts of the Garden State followed by unseasonably warm temperatures in early April, growers are keeping one eye on their fields and the other on the weather forecast as they hope for a reprieve from the extremes and a return to a normal production schedule.

The last two years have been a precarious maze for Florida tomato growers. First, the industry was wrongly blamed for a 2008 Salmonella outbreak that sickened hundreds. Then came January's freezes that wiped out 80 percent of the winter crop. In between -- and ongoing -- the industry is wrestling with a tangle of self-regulation, and state and pending federal legislation that could make a lawyer blush.

Southern Specialties Inc., headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, named Dana Giacone manager of the company's West Coast operations.

Ms. Giacone has extensive experience in the produce industry. Prior to joining Southern Specialties, she worked with growers, processors and foodservice distributors as regional business manager for River Ranch Fresh Foods in Salinas, CA. Her position with Southern Specialties will be focused on expanding the company's customer base and on developing product lines.

In South Korea, thousands of people sat down to a breakfast of Florida pink grapefruit this morning. Earlier this year, thousands more in Ireland got a taste of sunshine in the form of Florida strawberries. In fact, due in large part to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services' decade-old Fresh from Florida marketing campaign, millions of consumers regularly enjoy Florida produce in 15 countries around the world all year.

"Vidalia O' on the Go" is a national summer travel contest planned by marketing students at Vidalia Comprehensive High School in conjunction with the Vidalia Onion Committee. The contest gives contestants who purchase a vehicle tag the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes.

Ryan Flowers, marketing instructor at VCHS, approached Wendy Brannen about potential projects for his students. Ms. Brannen is executive director of the Vidalia Onion Committee and serves on the VCHS Marketing Advisory Committee.

The 10th anniversary show of the New England Produce Council will carry the patriotic theme of Stars & Stripes, according to Laura Sullivan, executive director of the council, which is based in Burlington, MA.

The 2010 NEPC Produce & Floral Expo will be held April 14 in Boston's Hynes Convention Center. Set-up for show exhibitors will be April 13, and there is a pre-event cocktail party for exhibitors and invited guests on the evening of April 13.