DETROIT -- The economic challenges of 2009 were more than many businesses could bear, but Detroit wholesalers found success among the obstacles and have a positive outlook going into 2010.

"It was a good year," Dominic Riggio, president of Aunt Mids Produce Co., here on the Detroit Produce Terminal, said of 2009. "Package count on a lot of items is up. We have been able to maintain a lot of things and grow a lot of things. And - obviously in a down economy - we are doing pretty good."

Brooks, OR-based Curry & Co. announced in a Jan. 13 press release that produce industry veteran Cameron Low recently joined the company and will focus on Curry's year-round sweet onion program for both domestic and imported sweet onions.

Mr. Low started his career in 1990 with Sysco Foodservice in California and then moved to Hollister, CA, joining Denice & Filice Packing in 1992. He took on the position of sales manager in 2000, working closely with peppers, onions, garlic, corn, melons and cherries.

Some fruit and vegetable producers in subtropical Florida, which extends from the northern edge of Lake Okeechobee south through the Florida Keys, took a hard hit to their crops from the freeze that lingered over the state during the first and second weeks of January. Others, however, were more fortunate.

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ — Fisher Capespan USA LLC, based here, has entered the avocado business.

The firm's top executives — Marc Solomon, chief executive officer and president, and Mark Greenberg, chief operating officer and senior vice president of procurement — met Jan. 20 in Mr. Solomon’s office with The Produce News to announce the new product offering. The day marked the firm’s official entry into the avocado trade. Mr. Greenberg normally works in Fisher Capespan’s Montreal office.

Bakersfield, CA-based Sun World International LLC and Plant City, FL-based Santa Sweets Inc. are partnering to help retailers meet consumer demand for a great-tasting tomato.

Beginning in late January, Sun World will offer supplies of Santa Sweets grape tomatoes in one-pint and one-quart clamshells that will be merchandised under a co-branded "Santa Sweets-Sun World" label for both conventional and organic product.

A series of strong storms have pelted the growing regions in California and Arizona the week of Jan. 18, and although there are expected to be effects, market prices had not yet risen by Jan. 20 for most crops.

Virtually all the growing regions in California and Arizona were affected as the storms began Sunday, Jan. 17, and were expected to last all week. In fact, at press time, what was expected to be the strongest storm was still sitting offshore with landfall predicted for Thursday and Friday, Jan. 21 and 22.