NEWARK, NY  U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), a longtime friend of the state's apple industry, picked the official first apple of the 2005 New York harvest Sept. 6 at The Apple Shed orchard, here, launching a harvest season expected to yield more than 25 million bushels.

WILLCOX, AZ  Eurofresh Inc., a leading year-round grower-shipper of tomatoes on-the vine and other greenhouse-grown tomatoes, has introduced a consumer guarantee program for its packaged varieties of "Eurofresh Farms" branded product.

A seal indicating Guaranteed Fresh Flavor coupled with the statement Eurofresh promises garden-fresh flavor in every tomato, is now included on every package label for campari, roma, and cherry tomatoes on-the-vine.

Fresh Gourmet, a leading supplier of retail croutons merchandised in produce departments, announced a fresh new look for its packaging. The new bags feature dynamic and energized photography, reflecting the tastes of today's consumer, along with bold traffic-stopping graphics to maximize point-of-sale positioning.

Ciruli Bros. LLC in Nogales, AZ, and Agricola San Isidro, a produce growing and shipping operation in Culiacan, Mexico, owned by Eduardo and Malena Leyson, have entered into a long-term agreement, according to Christopher Ciruli, a partner in Ciruli Bros.

Ciruli Bros., exclusive marketing agent for Amex Distributing Co., is a major distributor of mangos and melons, and also brokers an assortment of vegetable items. The San Isidro operation includes the world's largest eggplant plantation.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, D'Arrigo Bros. Co. of California in Salinas will sponsor a local Florida cooking show and work with Florida retailers to promote DArrigos "Andy Boy" broccoli rabe throughout October.

Health benefit information on the links between breast cancer prevention and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli rabe will be found on in-store signage and recipe cards and in local newspapers.

Santa Sweets Inc., based in Plant City, FL, has hired Christopher Grallert as its senior vice president of marketing and sales.

"Our 'Santa Sweets' and UglyRipe brands have grown fantastically over the years," said Don Long, president of Santa Sweets. With new products on the frontier, we welcome the expertise Christopher Grallert will provide in helping structure Santa Sweets expected growth.