At its late-October meeting, the Produce for Better Health Foundation's executive committee decided to end its direct involvement in pursuing the development of national promotion board for the fruit and vegetable industry.

Members of the Southern California produce industry let their feet and legs do the talking when they turned out en masse Sunday, Oct. 25, to participate in the City of Hope's annual Walk For Hope, which raises money to fight and cure breast cancer.

Dubbed "Team Produce," more than 120 participants joined in the walk and/or participated in the event as volunteers. More than $60,000 worth of produce was donated to the event, all of which was passed out to many of the 9,000 people who walked in the beautiful Southern California sunshine.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service announced Oct. 22 that it had amended its citrus canker regulations to allow fruit from quarantined areas to be shipped to all U.S. states and territories based on results of new scientific research.

The ruling was praised in Florida, the only state that was under quarantine for citrus canker, but questioned by other citrus-producing states and territories.

Were you ever given an exceptional sales pitch when shopping for a new car, television, computer or other item? How about for a specific service such as lawn care, pest control or auto maintenance? How do presentations come across to you when seeking a supplier, equipment or a specialized vendor? What kind of pitches do salespeople give you to get your business? And once they get in the door, are all those golden promises fulfilled?

The Southeast Produce Council will be looking back a decade and forward a decade as it gathers the first weekend in November to celebrate a major milestone: its 10th anniversary.

The council will hold its annual golf tournament and offer a variety of events -- both educational and social - for the expected large turnout of members at its 10th anniversary celebration and fall conference, set for Nov. 5-7 at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, GA.

Dennis Latina, a longtime leader of Philadelphia's fruit import industry, died suddenly at home Oct. 23, one day after celebrating his 60th birthday with family and friends.