Okray Family Farms Inc., located in Plover, WI, expects its potato volume to increase 10 percent this season when compared to 2011. The company has approximately 1,800 acres in potato production. “We grow principally Norkotah and Silverton russets, Red Norlands and Jelly and Augustas for yellows,” Corporate Secretary Richard Okray told The Produce News Aug. 20. “Okray Family Farms provides category management and replenishment to the retail sector. Very little of our product is used for foodservice or wholesale.”

The University of Wisconsin-Madison provided a snapshot of the state's potato production in its Vegetable Crop Update issued Aug. 16. "Harvest season has begun for many growers harvesting chipping and processing potatoes, and of course fresh potatoes of all types direct to the processing plants or packingsheds," wrote Professor A.J. Bussan of the Department of Horticulture. "Yields appear to be quite good across the state. But there are some quality issues that have begun to raise concerns. Determinate crops, including Norkotah, are beginning to mature.

DANNY GOFORTH joined Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing as a sales executive for its customer solutions/sales team.

Mr. Goforth is also a graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, where he earned a degree in agricultural business. He previously worked as a sales and business development manager for Salinas, CA-based Colorful Harvest.

Known as a year-round supplier of premium-quality fresh sweet corn, Prima Bella Produce has been shipping under the popular “GloriAnn” label for over a decade. Now, GloriAnn is also the name of the company.

Although the name has changed, everything else will remain the same: the company will have the same location and staff as well as the high-quality produce and service its customers have come to expect. The name change is the latest step in the company's continuing growth and development.

A recent hail storm in Washington will take a bite out of apple volume for Sage Fruit Co., headquartered in Yakima, WA. But the impact of storm damage will be tempered by increased apple production and tonnage this season.

A review article published Sept. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirms that consuming organic foods reduces consumers' exposure to pesticide residues and to bacteria-resistant to antibiotics, but that the nutritional value between the two categories is not significant. The report spurred mainstream coverage in dozens of news venues that day.

In a press release issued the same day, the Organic Trade Association noted that pesticides are among the top reasons consumers cite for choosing to buy organic products.