Stemilt Growers, based in Wenatchee, WA, has begun to pack fresh cherries in a new, high-altitude box. The special pack type is used only when the company begins harvesting its high-elevation cherries, as it helps differentiate the company's premium late cherry program in the marketplace.

According to Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl, the idea for the high-altitude box is nothing new.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Peru released information earlier this summer stating that the country’s fresh-onion exports totaled $6.6 million from January through May 2011. According to government officials, this represents an increase of 64 percent over the same period in 2010.

The total fresh-onion volume was 34,300 tons during the reporting period. This represents a volume increase

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., headquartered in Middleboro, MA, is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and becoming a leader in environmental sustainability, which is consistent with the company’s heritage, said Scott Simmons, general manager of produce.

John Gates, president of Lancaster Foods LLC in Baltimore, told The Produce News that the company continues to increase the amount of processing it does.

“We’re engaged in a lot of fresh-cut and repacked items today,” said Mr. Gates. “New for our company is that we’re now manufacturing salads. We do a tremendous amount of fresh-cut processing for foodservice operators and retail packs for grocery stores.”

East Coast Fresh Cuts, the fresh-cut division of Coastal Sunbelt Produce, is located a few miles from the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market in Savage, MD. Dave Zeleznik, vice president of East Coast Fresh Cuts, told The Produce News that the company, which in the past sold predominantly to the foodservice sector, is now focusing just as strongly on the retail side.

Now in its third generation of management, Edward G. Rahll & Sons Inc., located at the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market in Jessup, MD, is heavy into a full line of fresh produce, including a full line of herbs, and ethnic, specialty and exotic items. It still maintains its traditional line of commodity produce, including tomatoes, potatoes and onions, which it has handled for decades. Citrus from Florida and California, melons, and stone fruits are also important items in the company’s line of fresh produce.