NOGALES, AZ — A season that began with the doldrums has become one of the more profitable in memory for the Nogales produce industry with the only apparent difference between brokers, growers and distributors being the amount by which they have profited from production problems in other growing regions.

Uncle Matt's, based in Clermont, FL, is partnering with Agrinova, a co-op of small organic growers in Sicily, to offer premium organic Sicilian blood oranges to U.S. consumers. The oranges will be available starting the week of March 8 through early April.

Founded in Sicily over 20 years ago, Agrinova farms its crops in the nutrient- rich volcanic soil near Mount Etna. Like Uncle Matt's, Agrinova believes in farming in harmony with nature and does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides on any of their crops.

Two Wenatchee, WA, family-based operations have merged to become what is arguably the leading U.S. tree fruit growing, packing and marketing operation.

Through the deal, Dovex Marketing & Packing will be combined into Stemilt Growers Inc.'s operations, and both companies’ fruit will be marketed under the "Stemilt" label. Stemilt will gain approximately 175,000 bins of fruit storage and a state-of-the-art apple-packing facility, according to a March 3 release from Stemilt Growers Inc.

Jim Hadley, president, chief executive officer and partner of Harold Crawford Co. Inc. in Bakersfield, CA, died Feb. 20, just one month after undergoing surgery for colon cancer. He was 66.

"It was sudden," said Harold Crawford, the company's founder and chairman of the board. “He had surgery, and 32 days later he was gone.”

Mr. Hadley had been with the company for about seven years and had been president and CEO since January 2008. Previously, “he was a consultant for us for about five years,” Mr. Crawford said.

The National Apple Month program announced the winners of the fall 2009 National Apple Month retail and military display contests. The annual contest, which jump starts the domestic apple industry's marketing season, provided retailers and the apple industry with increased sales and gave consumers easy access to great-tasting, good-for-you apples and partner products of Marzetti Caramel Apple Dips, Smucker’s natural peanut butter and JIF natural peanut butter.

After three decades in the fruit industry, Steve Terry, general sales manager at Chelan Fresh Marketing, has retired.

According to a March 1 press release, Tom Riggan, former director of export sales and assistant sales manager, has been named to succeed Mr. Terry.

Mr. Terry, who headed sales for the Chelan, WA-based company since 2005, is counted among those who launched the fruit marketing operation in August 2004.