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After a lighter-than-normal start in late October, Florida’s tomato volume had begun to accelerate in mid-November, said Michael Schadler, manager of the Maitland-based Florida Tomato Committee.

I visited 12 grocery stores in the Kansas City area the evening that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked another E. coli outbreak to romaine, and the Nov. 20 trip was far more revealing than I expected.

The FDA has named Adam Bros. Farm in Santa Barbara County as one potential source of the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine — but it cautions that the finding does not explain all the illnesses in the outbreak.

Imports of mangoes and papayas have shown strong growth over the past decade.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is restricting California and New York businesses from operating in the industry, including meal kit company Chef’d, which closed abruptly last July when it ran out of funds.

Salad dressing company Litehouse Inc., Sandpoint, Idaho, has promoted Kelly Prior to president.

World Waters LLC, Denver, is recalling 12 packs of WTRMLN WTR cold-pressed watermelon juice because of possible presence of soft plastic pieces in the bottles.

SunWest Fruit Co., Parlier, Calif., has promoted Brett Britz to vice president of sales and marketing.

Former National Football League player Hines Ward will be the keynote speaker at The Fresh Produce & Floral Council’s Expo.

JOH, Billerica, Mass., has promoted Kathy Sullivan to senior vice president of its Specialty and Alternate Channel.