The good news, according to Scott Rossi, is that “we really anticipate it will be a great market for Sonora district grapes” this spring. “There should be great demand to fill pipelines” created by shortages of late Chilean grapes.

“May will be a difficult month for U.S. retailers, and we’ll be ready to put out heavy volume in June,” said Rossi, who is the sales manager of Fresh Farms LLC.

In recent years, Grupo Molina plunged forward in developing its Mexican table grape business by extending its Sonoran vineyard operations southward to the state of Jalisco.

ProSource Produce LLC, an Idaho based grower-shipper of fresh potatoes and onions, has introduced new Idaho russet packaging as part of an overall company growth and development strategy.  The black bags will be available this week in three-, five-, eight- and 10-pound clear or tinted poly.  Mesh bags will be available in a few weeks. 

The company recently announced its new sweet onion carton, which shares the same graphics and brand elements.   

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

Family-owned for more than nine decades, Blossom Hill Packing and Lucich Santos Farms have more than 40 years of experience growing and shipping apricots.

Dole Food Co. is partnering with global brand extension licensing agency Beanstalk to extend its iconic brand into food categories that further empower consumers to experience healthy living through association with the Dole brand.

For generations the Dole brand has represented the highest quality in produce with a mission to make the world a healthier place through education and research programs. Today, being a meaningful part of everyday wellness and an environmental steward increasingly resonates with a growing audience across age groups.

It was smiles all around at the opening party of the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure Expo. After a day of educational sessions, produce industry members from around the country happily gathered to share a drink and story or two in an evening filled with music, dancing and entertainment at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, FL, on April 7.