The first load of Peruvian onions imported by Bland Farms LLC arrived at the Port of Savannah, GA, the week of Aug. 8. Richard Pazderski, director of sales and marketing, said that movement to the marketplace was scheduled to begin within days of arrival.

The company, headquartered in Reidsville, GA, is the nation’s largest shipper of Vidalia sweet onions. In addition to production regions in Georgia, Texas, New York, Idaho and Utah, Bland Farms has cemented business relationships with onion producers in Peru, Mexico and Ecuador.

Shuman Produce Inc., headquartered in Vidalia, GA, is projecting its Peruvian onion program will increase 35 percent in 2011.

Retailers are already stocking the company’s “RealSweet” onions, which will continue to be available through mid-February. “Our ‘RealSweet’ Peruvian sweet onions are an important part of our year-round sweet onion program,” John Shuman, the company’s president and director of sales, told The Produce News on Aug. 10. “Consistency is important, and our Peruvian onions allow us to offer the highest-quality product on the market for our retail partners.”

Barry Rogers, president and chief executive officer of Melbourne, FL-based Sweet Onion Trading Co., expects that the volume of Peruvian onions he will be importing will be down this season. “There was a colder-than-normal winter in parts of Peru, and some feel it may have affected the yield,” he told The Produce News on Aug. 9.

Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc., headquartered in Greencastle, PA, is excited about the prospects for its 2011 trademarked “Mayan Sweets” Peruvian onions. “[Things are] excellent so far,” said Marty Kamer, vice president of sales, on Aug. 11. “However, we have just begun the harvest. Anything can happen at this time.”

The company began its “Mayan Sweets” onion program in 1992. Keyperu S.A. is the Peruvian-based sister company, staffed by local experts. Growers have exclusive agreements with Keyperu to facilitate standardized growing practices and product consistency.

Oso Sweet Onions, headquartered in Charleston, WV, will once again market top-quality Peruvian sweet onions to is clients this season. “We’re off to a great start,” President Brian Kastick told The Produce News on Aug. 12. “We’re very excited about everything.

Oso Sweet increased its plantings this season to respond to continued consumer demand. “Our programs in the United States and Europe will be significantly larger,” Mr. Kastick stated.

It is a “different” year for apple production at Gardeners, PA-based Rice Fruit Co., said John Rice, vice president of sales and marketing.

“The crop situation not as good as it was the last couple of years,” he said. “Volumes will be down by at least 15 percent due to lighter fruit set this year. We had some hail damage early in the season. When it’s cool and rainy for an extended period, the apples don’t pollinate as well as they should.

“The undamaged apples, however, are good size and quality,” he added. “We just won’t have as many as normal.”