Murakami Produce General Manager Grant Kitamura told The Produce News in early September that good marketing and patience are important in moving this year's Treasure Valley onion crop.

From his Ontario, OR, office, Mr. Kitamura said the current crop is of high quality and good size.

"I have confidence in the quality," he said. "But we have to hold together as marketers. We have to be orderly, and we have to be patient."

The Giumarra Cos., headquartered in Los Angeles, announced the expansion of its Nogales, AZ-based sales team with two new hires on Aug. 27.

Move over, Denise Austin. A giant Idaho potato on a flat-bed truck is taking center stage in this year's Idaho Potato Commission television advertising campaign.

Make no mistake, Ms. Austin, the famous fitness guru who has been celebrity spokesperson for Idaho potatoes for several years, will continue in that roll and will be involved with the commission in a number of programs.

According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, over the last two decades the strawberry industry has experienced a huge increase in the rate of consumer consumption of berries.

This summer, Central Produce Distributors, headquartered in Payette, ID, joined Certified Onions Inc. "This season, we'll be fully ramped up and going," General Manager Ray Burzota told The Produce News on Sept. 6.

“We look forward to increased availability again this year as we continue to focus on our imported berry program,” said Cindy Jewell, director of marketing for California Giant Berry Farms headquartered in Watsonville, CA. “If weather cooperates, we are expecting our volumes to increase by between 15 and 20 percent over last year.”