In anticipation of the release of Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s The Smurfs 2, in theaters July 31, Gourmet Trading Co. is bringing back the iconic characters to the labels on its packages of California, Oregon and British Columbia blueberries.

Tony Guisto is something of an urban legend in Big Sky Country — at least to one doctor.

“Being on a ranch is physically demanding,” he told The Produce News. “I’ll do it while I’m young and dumb. If you’re going to work cattle with horses, you’re going to get hurt.”

And right he was.

Because of what many call the alternate bearing tendency of a mango tree, the Chiapas region didn’t deliver the volume of Ataulfos that Ciruli Bros. LLC were looking for during the early stretch of the Mexican mango deal.

“Right now we are transitioning out of Chiapas and into Nayarit,” said Chris Ciruli, the Nogales, AZ-based company’s chief operating officer, in mid-May. “It’s a new field and a new pick and we expect better volume.”

HAMMONTON, NJ — The 2013 New Jersey spring produce deal was underway and would be gaining strength when The Produce News visited Frank Donio Inc. in mid-May, but the company was also looking ahead to the Jersey blueberry deal, announcing that it had increased its blueberry acreage for the upcoming season by close to 15 percent.

Well-Pict Berries has launched its “Pinning is Slimming” promotion on Pinterest. Through June 30, Pinners can re-pin their favorite recipe from any of four of Well-Pict’s specially marked boards. Entrants then comment on the original recipe they chose to re-pin. All participants are entered into a drawing for a $100 grocery gift card.

Mastronardi Produce Ltd., via Forgotten Harvest in Detroit, donated a full truckload of greenhouse produce to support the ongoing relief efforts in Moore, OK.

“We are glad to help the residents of Moore, Oklahoma, by providing fresh vegetables during this very difficult time, our hearts go out to the thousands of people in that community,” Paul Mastronardi, company president, said in a press release.