When John Shuman and his brothers, Mark and Ben, were growing up, they could count on being busy six months of the year helping their dad Buck with his Vidalia onion crop. These days, it is always onion season at Shuman Produce Inc. of Reidsville, GA, which has grown into one of the largest providers of sweet onions in the world.

Though Shuman now grows and ships onions from around the Western Hemisphere, Vidalia is still the crown jewel of the operation and this time of year is always special.

The United Fresh Produce Association is now accepting nominations to help select an honoree to speak at the annual Reception Honoring Women in Produce, Thursday, June 12 at the United Fresh 2014 convention in Chicago.

Each year, United Fresh recognizes the contributions of all women working in the produce industry and honors one outstanding female industry leader at this reception.

Since last season, Vision Import Group of River Edge, NJ, and its partner Vision Produce Co. of Los Angeles have closed their joint Texas operation, yet the principals of the companies still expect a significant increase in their mango volume from Mexico.

Ronald Cohen, who wears the title of vice president of sales-member of the New Jersey firm, said the closing of Vision Produce Partners of Texas in October of 2013 was just a matter of reshuffling of responsibilities between the two coastal entities.

Marketplace reception to the “Happy Chameleon” brand of tropical fruit, introduced at last year’s Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, has put a smile on the corporate face of C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.

Jet Harvest Solutions has entered an exclusive distribution agreement with Simplot Growers Solutions and Western Ag Improvement for the distribution of its Cherry Armor product, which is organically certified and uses a patented plant extract to strengthen a cherry’s natural ability to defend itself again rain events.

The fourth annual America Trades Produce Conference kicked off March 12 in Tubac, AZ, with a Welcoming Reception at the Tubac Resort, which brought together attendees from Arizona and Texas, as well as other parts of North America.

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