The grape tomato category has seen significant growth in recent years and it has reached the point where it makes economic sense for Sambrailo Packaging to manufacture one-pound RunRite grape tomato clamshells in its Mexican plant.

“This will give us quicker turnaround time for our customers in Mexico,” said Jim Scattini, vice president of sales and marketing for the company.

“It also lets us avoid some of the issues involved at the border crossing” with regard to bringing empty clamshells from the United States down into Mexico, he said.

When the summer rolls around, Eclipse Berry Farms LLC in Oxnard, CA, rolls out its “other” crop with the harvest of its grape tomatoes.

The company is one of the larger domestic producers of grape tomatoes with all of its acreage in the Ventura County area.

“Well, we’re the largest grower in this area,” said Rick Hearst, who along with Stuart Gilfenbain, handles sales of the product.

HAMMONTON, NJ — Barring unforeseen weather problems during the upcoming harvest, industry veteran Tim Wetherbee is expecting more blueberries this season from New Jersey than last, with volume more on par with historical norms.

In a rare case of unanimity, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a California raisin grower in his battle against the federal raisin marketing order, ruling that the grower can have his day in court against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the order.

The case was not a direct challenge to the order itself but rather gives the grower, Marvin Horne of Kerman, CA, the right to have his case heard by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Someone once said, "What's old is new again." Reviving a unique harvesting technique originally launched a decade ago, Salinas-based Tanimura & Antle has reintroduced its "Field-Fresh" wrapped leaf lettuce for one simple reason: buying segment demand.

Organic mushrooms satisfy consumers’ desire for great value and quality, according to Giorgio Fresh. The company, a leading grower and shipper of fresh mushrooms, headquartered in Temple, PA, became a certified organic grower on March 11, 2004.