In 2003, a group of Nebraska investors built a 10-acre, state-of-the-art, hydroponic hot-house tomato operation in O'Neill, named the company 21st Century Growers and began selling tomatoes to the local community as well as wholesalers across the country.

In its mission statement, the group believed that the central location of its operation offered a freight advantage with "affordable and convenient access" to 50 million people within a one-day shipping time frame.

The Southeast Produce Council has added a new workshop to its annual fall conference designed to enhance its value for all attendees.

The new component is a Supply Chain Summit, which will feature a panel discussion by guest speakers representing each channel in the supply chain process, including conventional retailers, mass marketers, wholesalers, foodservice distributors, growers, shippers and those in transportation, according to information on the council's web site.

Westlake Produce Co. announced that its West Side melon program will be at full strength and that the popular mini-watermelon will see an increase in volume over 2006.

Andrew Bivens, California melon manager for the Los Angeles-based distributor, said that the company would offer an excellent supply of cantaloupes, honeydew, mixed melons and all varieties of watermelon throughout the deal, which launches the first of July.

Paul Kneeland, director of produce and floral operations for Roche Bros., headquartered in Wellesley Hills, MA, has taken a new position to head produce and floral operations for Kings Super Markets Inc., based in Parsippany, NJ. Mr. Kneeland said that he was to begin at Kings on June 18.

Kings Super Markets is an upscale retail chain that was founded in 1936 and operates 25 stores.

Mr. Kneeland also is first vice president of the New England Produce Council, based in Burlington, MA, and was on the founding board of the council.

With the California avocado harvest currently at peak season, the industry has been shipping anywhere from 8 million to 10 million pounds of avocados a week, according to Guy Witney, director of industry affairs for the California Avocado Commission.

In addition, Mexico has been sending between 7 million and 11 million pounds of avocados a week to the U.S. marketplace.

The central California summer onion deal is hoping to rebound to its 2005 form after a dropoff in volume in 2006. There were 10,200 acres of onions harvested in the central California onion deal in 2006, which yielded a harvest of slightly more than 9.01 million fiftyweight bags. In 2005, there were only 8,700 acres planted with slightly more than 9.5 million fiftyweight bags harvested.