"We have great volumes, and sales on our ‘SlimCado’ avocados have been tremendous this summer season,” said Mary Ostlund, marketing director for Brooks Tropicals LLC, headquartered in n Homestead, FL. “Brooks starts picking our Florida avocados in May, but out-of-state volumes aren’t available until June. The season picks up steam in July and August, which is perfect for summer’s outdoor eating.”

Ostlund said consumers are adventurous when it comes to avocados. They love choice and when they party, they give their guests a choice.

Gourmet Trading Co., one of the larger importers of Peruvian asparagus in North America, moved its headquarters offices in the past year, opening a brand-new facility in the Southern California city of Redondo Beach.

The state-of-the-art warehouse and office is a newly renovated 53,000-square-foot facility. The space has expanded loading capacity, advanced precooling infrastructure and the addition of clean rooms for future value-added programs.

Salinas, CA-based Coastline Family Farms recently announced the promotion of Linda Kivlehan from retail sales to sales manager.

Each fall the San Luis Valley's many potato farms and packing sheds, along with individuals and families who contribute to Colorado's rich potato legacy, are celebrated with a harvest festival — and this year's is shaping up to be one for the history books.

Chiquita Brands International, which in March announced a proposed merger with Dublin, Ireland-based Fyffes plc, received an unsolicited $611 million buyout offer from the Cutrale Group and the Safra Group.

The pair of companies proposed to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Chiquita Brands Inc. at a price of $13 per share in cash to Chiquita shareholders. This proposal represents a premium of 29 percent to Chiquita's closing share price of $10.06 as of Aug. 8; however, since the offer was announced Chiquita's stock has risen to more than $13 per share.