California Giant Berry Farms in Watsonville, CA, has moved into the peak of its season with excellent volume, great quality and strong demand.

Cindy Jewell, the firm’s director of marketing, said that the company continues to push the “berry patch” concept to retailers as the best way to merchandise the various types of berries the company sells.

Three crop peaks and a significant overall increase in production is being forecast by Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers of Wenatchee, WA, for its 2012 cherry season.

Dan Wohlford, national marketing representative for Oneonta, told The Produce News on May 21 that the operation is "looking at a 16 percent increase over last year's crop."

Coastline Produce believes its lettuce variety that is a cross between Butter lettuce and Romaine hearts can create a bigger ring at retail and help transition consumers to higher-margin items.

There was a time when the vegetable-producing arm of A. Duda & Sons Inc. Inc., flexed its muscles and expanded its product lines.

KINGSBURG, CA — The California stone fruit industry has seen considerable consolidation and attrition in recent years, and according to Bob Maxwell, sales manager at Kingsburg Orchards, here, it has left the industry stronger.

REEDLEY, CA — Twenty years ago, only 5 percent of the peaches and nectarines grown in California were white-flesh varieties, noted Don Goforth, marketing director for Family Tree Farms Marketing LLC, here. “Today, 25 percent of our industry is now white flesh.”