Delhi, LA-based Dawson Farms LLC is now producing the Orleans, a sweet potato variety that has a slightly redder skin than the similar Beauregard variety.

The Orleans is not stringy and is so sweet that sugar caramelizes on potatoes that have been baked, with one puncture at their top, said sales manager and family-farm member Eva Dawson.

The quality of the sweet potato crop at Dawson Farms is “fantastic, which is a blessing, but it’s a tad bit late,” Dawson noted.

Kirk Wilson, the newly appointed regional sales manager for Country Fresh Mushroom Co. headquartered in Toughkenamon, PA, said the company has continued its efforts to provide its partners with the freshest product and innovative packaging.

“Whether it is our soon-to-be unveiled environmentally friendly packaging, or our convenient ‘Personal Portion Portabella,’ we encourage all visitors to the PMA [Produce Marketing Association] Fresh Summit to look for these and other exciting items at the Country Fresh booth, number 1607,” Wilson said.

Gonzalo Avila, previously vice president and general manager of Malena Produce Inc. in Nogales, AZ, has been named chief executive officer.

Never have there been so many choices in the produce aisle. New pack sizes, new varieties and fresh cuts have multiplied. With many available in both conventional and organic labels, it’s a good time to sort through what “organic” and “natural” mean, and their continuing marketing implications.

River Ranch Fresh Foods, a grower-shipper-processor of fresh vegetables based in Salinas, CA, will cease operations, effective Nov. 8.

With its second season winding down, Peppadew Gold peppers, produced by Peppadew Fresh LLC in Morganville, NJ, are poised to see an increase in production in the Garden State, with a future goal of expanding to other growing districts.

Pierre Crawley, managing director of the company, said the affiliation with the "Jersey Fresh" program and the Shop Rite supermarket chain, owned by Wakefern Food Corp. in Elizabeth, NJ, has been a great boost to the product this year.