USDA will allow lemon imports from Argentina
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Dec. 20 that it would publish its final rule allowing lemon imports from areas of Argentina into the U.S. Its pest risk assessment and three site visits, most recently in September, led the agency to conclude that a systems approach requiring registration, monitoring, treatment and traceability protocols for production Read More →
Amgen seeks to market osteoporosis drug in Japan
Thousand Oaks biotech giant Amgen is seeking marketing approval in Japan for osteoporosis drug romosozumab, the company announced on Dec. 20. Amgen submitted the request to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in Japan, where an estimated 12 million people have a high risk of bone fracture. The company is co-developing the drug worldwide with Euronext Read More →
Calavo Growers reports record fourth quarter income
Calavo Growers, headquartered in Santa Paula, reported record fourth quarter revenues of $247.7 million and net income of $9.2 million, almost double its net income for the same period last year. Earnings climbed to 53 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 31, compared to 28 cents for the fourth quarter 2015, bringing Read More →
Lockheed Martin wins contract for F-35 logistics
Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract valued at $181.2 million by the Naval Air Systems Command to provide logistic services for its F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The aerospace and defense company with operations in Santa Barbara will conduct ground maintenance, supply chain management, pilot and maintainer training and support and other functions, according to a Read More →
Ventura nonprofit gets grant to expand ag education program
Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture, a Ventura-based nonprofit, received a Specialty Crop Block Grant of $193,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand its agriculture education program. The funds will help SEEAG deliver its food science and nutrition program to 10,000 additional students over the next two and a half years, the organization said Read More →
Calavo Growers president resigning for job at FreshRealm
Santa Paula-based Calavo Growers President and Chief Operating Officer Kenneth Catchot will resign on Jan. 6 and be replaced by Lecil Cole, according to a Dec. 19 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Catchot will take on a senior management position with FreshRealm, which Calavo holds a 46 percent ownership interest. FreshRealm is a Ventura-based company Read More →
Santa Maria agents arrested for alleged real estate scheme
A Santa Maria real estate sales associate was arrested on five counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing more than $500,000 from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley announced on Dec. 15 that Angelo Naemi allegedly conspired with Steven Gonzales to falsify documents regarding a number of short-sale transactions. Gonzales, owner Read More →
