“The main focus of our business continues to be bringing in a great crop and satisfying our customers,” Peter Forrence, vice president of Forrence Orchards in Peru, NY, told The Produce News. “In a generational business like ours we just hope that the next generations will want to continue the traditions that we have developed during our history, which dates back to 1833.”

The company produces a wide range of apple varieties, with the McIntosh and Honeycrisp being among the top. In fact, the company has been producing the McIntosh since it became commercially available.

Hudson River Fruit Distributors in Milton, NY, was established in 1963 by Isadore (Izzy) Albinder, along with his son Harold Albinder. Today the company is in its fourth generation of ownership and management.

Alisha Albinder represents the fourth generation and works in operations. She explained that Izzy Albinder first entered the business by selling apples on a push cart in Brooklyn in the 1930s.

Monte Vista, CO — Going into the 2014-15 season with vigorous growth in virtually every aspect of its operations, Monte Vista-based Farm Fresh Direct of America is releasing five new spud varieties, offering several new pack options and announcing its partnership with Albert Bartlett, one of the largest fresh potato shippers in the United Kingdom.

Avocados from Mexico will kick off its 2014-15 retail promotional activity this Hispanic Heritage Month with “Échale al Asador” (Toss it on the Grill), a fully integrated program for Hispanic accounts. The program will feature a mobile sweepstakes and a coupon-recipe savings offer as well as digital, social media and in-store merchandising.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas is putting the final touches on its 46th Produce Convention & Golf Tournament. The convention will be held Oct. 30–Nov. 1 in Tubac, AZ, located just north of one of Nogales, AZ.

Monte Vista, CO — Mexican marketing campaigns remain in a holding pattern as the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee awaits further word on the border fully reopening for potato exports from the San Luis Valley, according to CPAC Assistant Director Linda Weyers.

Weyers said in mid-August, "We're playing the waiting game right now," noting the committee was awarded a USDA specialty crop block grant early this year to research consumer-direct marketing programs for its Mexican trade.