HAMMONTON, NJ — The timing of the 2013 New Jersey blueberry season is looking like it might be termed a return to normalcy following last year’s season, which was the earliest in many, many decades, according to John Galaida, general manager of Pleasantdale Farms.

“It seems like the 17th, 18th [of June] probably” for the start of the state’s upcoming season, Galaida told The Produce News Wednesday, May 29, during an interview at his office here in the southern part of New Jersey. “There may be a few people picking a day or two earlier.”

Due to very favorable weather for table grapes in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, the growing season for Hronis Inc. is off to an early start this year, according to a written statement from the company to The Produce News. “The company is fully integrating the most client-requested packaging to help accommodate retailers’ needs.”

IFCO Systems, a global leader in reusable plastic containers for fresh products, released a study confirming RPCs as a sustainable packaging option.

The report shows the IFCO solution generates 82 percent less solid waste, consumes 92 percent less water, requires 49 percent lower energy demand and lowers ozone depletion by 76 percent for a weighted average of 10 top produce commodities compared with shipping the same amount of produce in display-ready corrugated boxes.

The Peruvian Asparagus Importer's Association has released its 2013-14 Category Management Plan Outline for Fresh Peruvian Asparagus, which provides fresh-market asparagus consumption key demographics and suggestions regarding displays, as well as promotional and advertising ideas that offer retailers strategies to increase sales of Peruvian asparagus.

According to the outline, fresh asparagus continues to be a high-volume U.S. import, with more than 413 million pounds imported or consumed throughout the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Results of a recent study conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Western Human Nutrition Center scientifically support anecdotal information that consumption of sweet Bing cherries significantly decreases circulating concentrations of specific inflammatory biomarkers in human blood.

A new produce company has opened in southern New Jersey with some familiar names at the helm.

Jonathan Consalo and Robert Consalo Jr., formerly with Wm. Consalo & Sons in Vineland, NJ, are the new owners of Vivid Fruit & Produce LLC. It officially opened April 15 but started to move product around May 5, Jonathan — known as Jon — told The Produce News June 18.

The company, which he described as a grower, packer and shipper, is located in Buena, NJ, just a few miles from Vineland, the heart of the southern New Jersey produce deal.