Reduced weather events will translate to an increase in cherry tonnage for Stemilt Growers LLC, located in Wenatchee, WA. “Weather has been very favorable in Washington both pre- and post-bloom,” Communications Manager Brianna Shales told The Produce News. “We are anticipating a nice crop of cherries starting in early June.”

Suzanne Wolter, director of marketing for Rainier Fruit Co. in Yakima, WA, said retailers can expect to see the kind of cherry crop from the Pacific Northwest that will enable them to promote the fruit at least once prior to the July 4 holiday, if not twice depending upon distance from Washington. “Information to date indicates very little, if any, overlap between California cherries and the start of Northwest crop,” she told The Produce News. “Retailers and growers alike will be scrambling to satisfy early demand.”

It’s all hands on deck at Borton & Sons Inc., one of Washington’s leading grower-packer-shippers of premium tree fruit. The company is headquartered in Yakima, WA, and the 2014 cherry crop is producing the kind of pre-season excitement that bodes well for a successful marketing year.

Ron Everts, head cherry field man, said conditions during the production season have been great. “Spring has worked to our benefit and provided some of the best growing conditions we’ve seen for cherries,” he told The Produce News.

This cherry season, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers is upping its game with the introduction of a new packingline. “It is state of the art, with optical sorters that sort and cull fruit that might be missed by the human eye,” National Marketing Representative Dan Wohlford told The Produce News. “It’s also faster and gentler on the fruit, moving them by puffs of air to gently get them to the correct line for packing.

Avocados from Mexico is inviting retailers and wholesale partners to team up with the top-selling avocado brand at the 2014 United Fresh Show June 10-13 in Chicago.

Retailers that visit the Avocados from Mexico booth (No. 437) will get a preview of upcoming fall and winter promotions, including two new co-branded partnerships that leverage the excitement around football and tailgating.

This season, the California Avocado Commission has launched a variety of co-marketing promotional activities designed to encourage demand of California avocados and partner products.