In 2011, cold weather delayed the Florida watermelon crop by a couple of weeks. This year, a warm winter and spring brought production on two weeks early. After 15 years in Florida, Rick Sullivan, owner of Wm. Manis Co. in Plant City, is no longer surprised at what Mother Nature brings to the table.

VINELAND, NJ — Tom Consalo, director of sales at The Fresh Wave, was looking at a very early but “overwhelming” start to the 2012 New Jersey spring produce deal. Volume has been strong and quality has been excellent, two qualities he hopes will mark the entire local season.

“Thus far we’ve had an overwhelming start to the season,” Mr. Consalo told The Produce News May 8. “The volume this season has been a tremendous jump from prior years, obviously due to the warm weather we’ve had.”

Organic food production is a job creator.

According to a new economic study released on April 25 at the Organic Trade Association's Policy Conference in Washington, DC, producing U.S. foods organically creates thousands more jobs than if that food were produced using conventional agricultural methods.

The Hoosier State has officially created a branding program designed to bring global focus to homegrown produce and production. Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman announced the launch of Indiana Grown at the Artisan Market at the Indiana State Fair Grounds on March 30.

A new style of retail consumer packs for fresh grapes, which was seen to a limited degree last year, appears to have burst into widespread popularity for the 2012 season. It is a gusseted, often high-graphic stand-up bag with a handle, which some refer to as a grab-and-go bag.

Similar style bags have been used for some time now for various food products, and have begun to find application in other produce commodities as well.