VINELAND, NJ — The winter of 2013-14 was long, cold and harsh in most parts of the eastern United States, including the state of New Jersey. As a result, many produce items have been starting later than normal in the Garden State. This was well illustrated at the Vineland Produce Auction, which opened on Tuesday, May 7, the “latest opening ever in anyone’s memory,” according to the auction’s Carol DeFoor.

Approximately 600 stores across the United States are competing against each other to build engaging, summer grilling-themed mushroom displays in the Mushroom Council’s inaugural Swap It or Top It retail display contest.

Domex Superfresh Growers, a global leader in the growing and shipping of fresh apples, pears, cherries and apricots, has launched a new photo sharing sweepstakes for cherries called Sweeten Up Your Summer.

Sun World International LLC has appointed Keith Mitchell as its new chief financial officer.

Mitchell joins Sun World from Dole Food Co., where for more than two decades he held various division director and senior management roles, and most recently served as the company’s vice president and CFO.

Mi Pueblo Foods, a San Jose, CA-based family-grown Hispanic grocery chain, announced its formal emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization after having completed a necessary financial restructuring. As part of this announcement, the company also named Javier Ramirez as president and chief executive officer. Ramirez will succeed Mi Pueblo founder Juvenal Chavez, who will be named chairman of the board. 

The “Potato-Growing Area” exhibit on the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association's Spudmobile is celebrating all of the facets of potato production in Wisconsin, the third-largest potato-producing state in the nation. The exhibit also highlights the areas within the state that produce potatoes.

As the fourth and final exhibit visitors see on the driver’s side wall, the display will feature a map of Wisconsin that highlights all the areas contributing to Wisconsin’s potato-producing success.