Bland Farms, a leading grower-shipper-marketer of sweet onions based in Glennville, GA, announced July 11 that Bruce Peterson has been named chief executive officer, effective July 3. Mr. Peterson joined the Bland Farms board of advisors last January.

 Rainier Fruit Co. has distinguished itself in the blueberry market through its organic offerings. “Seventy-five percent of our blueberry production is either currently certified-organic or in transition,” Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter told The Produce News June 10. “We are finding our niche in organic production and competing with local berries in other parts of the country since our climate is very conducive to organic production. We don’t have the pest issues generally found in other more moist production areas.”

Blueberry volume numbers are increasing in 2011 for Stemilt Growers Inc., headquartered in Wenatchee, WA. “We will be up 10 to 15 percent this year largely due to new plantings coming into production,” said Communications Manager Brianna Shales. And she said Kyle Mathison, the company’s sole blueberry grower, is the reason the numbers are looking so good.

“He’s the blueberry king,” Ms. Shales told The Produce News June 10.

Curry & Co., headquartered in Brooks, OR, is set to market an increased blueberry volume in 2011. “Our blueberry program continues to grow, and we expect to have an increase by as much as 25 percent due to more acreage and higher yields than 2010,” President Matt Curry told The Produce News June 8. “We’ve added to our California tonnage, and we expect Oregon to continue to increase.”

Ruthven, ON-based greenhouse grower Clifford Produce was the recipient of awards at two separate events, the 2011 PAC Leadership Awards Gala at the Toronto Congress Centre and the Coolest Cucumber competition at the Leamington Agricultural Fair in Leamington, ON.

Stephen Whitney, who has served as the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian-based Dispute Resolution Corp. since its inception in 1999, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2011.