ST. LOUIS — Sean Kelley is in his first year as market manager of the St. Louis Produce Market Inc., having taken the position held by his late father, Pat Kelley. Pat Kelley passed away in January 2014 after losing a battle with colon cancer. Sean Kelley said he had worked on the market for five years with his father, so he is very well-acquainted with the market operators and their needs. Pat Kelley worked on the St.

“Overall, Chilean citrus exports are set to fall in 2014 due to the effects of last September’s freeze and a drought in the IV region,” Karen Brux, manager of marketing and promotions for the United States and Canada for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association in San Carlos, CA, told The Produce News. “However, not all varieties are expected to decrease.”

Brux, who also serves as marketing director for the Chilean Avocado Importers Association, explained that global exports of Clementines are forecast to fall by 13 percent to 27,705 tons.

Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo, headquartered in Pescadero, CA, has currently added new growing zones in Mexico to accommodate the expanded market demand, as well as to expand its development mission to other growing communities and families.

Marliese Ward, creative services manager for the company, said that the locally grown movement is definitely challenging the organics category to be better.

Christopher Ranch — a name known for high-quality garlic and other specialty products — is a family owned and operated grower, packer, marketer and shipper that was founded over 50 years ago in Gilroy, CA. In 1997, the company introduced its organic line.

Patsy Ross, vice president of marketing for the company, said it now specializes in organic garlic.

With the harvest of both California and Chinese garlic under way, industry sources say that the California crop appears to be good quality with similar acreage to last year, while Chinese production is expected to be down about 7 percent due to slightly reduced acreage and slightly lighter yields following a huge 2013 crop.

Nearly 300 people attended the Fresh Produce & Floral Council Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, June 25, at the Sheraton Cerritos in Cerritos, CA.