Larelle Miller, a produce industry veteran with 28 years of knowledge and expertise, is excited to be returning to California’s pear industry as sales manager for David J. Elliot & Son/DE Orchards LP in Courtland, CA.

“Participating in the game of musical chairs within the pear industry, I believe I am the winner,” she told The Produce News in late June.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.“I was with Rivermaid for 12 years and left in 2012. I took a sales manager position for Quail H Farms, a sweet potato company in Livingston. When I was offered the position of sales manager for David J Elliot & Son in January, I took that opportunity, to start my own company, Miller Fresh Marketing. With the full support of Quail H Farms and David J Elliot & Son, I have the opportunity to develop a synergy between these two companies, both whom have an outstanding reputation for quality and integrity within their respective industries,” Miller said.

“I bring with me 28 years of industry knowledge and experience. I am very excited to be back in the pear industry working for such a well-respected company and look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Miller said that the 2016 California pear season is progressing in a favorable manner. “It’s pretty good overall,” she stated. “We did experience a little rain during part of the bloom cycle. But that did not affect more than a handful of acreage.”

Though the area experienced a cold winter and wet spring, Miller said the net effect on production was positive. “Dormancy and water are key components in crop development,” she noted. “Fortunately, water restrictions have not been a major factor for us.”

The company grows and markets a pear manifest that includes conventional and organic Bartletts, red pears, Golden Bosc, Comice, French Butter, Seckel and Forelle. “No new varieties this year,” Miller said. “However, we will have a slight increase in volume of the new Hailey Red variety.”

The red harvest began on June 28, and the Bartlett harvest was set to ramp up around July 4. “The overall quality of the crop looks outstanding,” Miller commented. “Sizing could be up one full size this year. Our volume will be up about 10 percent over all varieties this season when compared to 2015.”

The company markets pears under the Daily, Delta and Have One labels. This year, there is an exciting new development.

“In addition to those labels, we are developing a new/old label for this year,” Miller said. “The Stillwater label has been in the Elliot family since the late 1800’s. It originated when the family moved from Stillwater, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Courtland, California. They stopped using it when the industry switched from wood to cartons. It’s a beautiful box, and the label has a great history. We are excited to bring it back. We will offer the Stillwater label in 40-pound standards, 36-pound tight fill and 8/3-pound pouch bags, & Euro cartons.”