Jasmine Vineyards in Delano, CA, will be up in volume in its production of the proprietary Sweet Sunshine grapes this year and will have its first commercial volume of Sweet Celebration, according to Brian Crettol, a salesman for the company.

Both varieties are from International Fruit Genetics in Bakersfield, CA, of which Jasmine is a licensee.

Jim Llano, sales manager at Castle Rock Vineyards in Richgrove, CA, told The Produce News on July 9 that the company will have more Castle Rock Reds this year, as well as increases in several other varieties.

Produce Trades, a produce technology firm based in Grand Island, NY, recently launched its website, ProduceTrades.com. The company's auction software aims to redefine the buying, selling and transporting process for the produce industry.

Using a self-customized software bidding application, Produce Trades fills a need for a 24/7 international marketplace to connect produce buyers, sellers and transporters in one single auction platform.

Bland Farms, a leading year-round sweet onion shipper based in Glennville, GA, has named John Cameron as its new director of sales, effective July 1. Mr. Cameron, who most recently worked at NatureSweet in San Antonio, TX, is charged with identifying and developing new customer-focused sweet onion programs.

Boskovich Farms Inc. in Oxnard, CA, will be showcasing its current line of foodservice packs, including salad mixes, coleslaw mix, herbs, mixed vegetables and fresh cut apples, at the Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference & Exposition in Monterey, CA, July 20-22.

MONTEREY, CA — Food-safety programs do not come one-size-fits-all and are "not something you can take off a shelf," because every company at every level of the produce supply chain has differences in its facilities and does some things different in its operations than every other company. Therefore, its "risk profile will be different," said Robert Whitaker, chief science and technology officer for the Produce Marketing Association.