Everyone knows the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." David Mixon, chief marketing officer for Seald Sweet International in Vero Beach, FL, might amend that to, “When life gives you small fruit, create promotional opportunities.”

Seald Sweet has an excellent, flavorful crop this year, but like the rest of the Florida (and industrywide) crop, fruit size is small, Mr. Mixon told The Produce News in late November.

The season for Florida Classic Growers (formerly Diversified Citrus Marketing) in Lake Hamilton, FL started off with a bang and has only gotten better, said Al Finch, vice president of sales and marketing.

George Wooten, owner of Wayne E. Bailey Produce Company in Chadbourn, NC, said that North Carolina had the best crop of sweet potatoes in the country in 2009, but shortages in other states put severe pressure on supplies during the past summer.

Spud City Sales LLC, based in Stevens Point, WI, regularly markets more than Wisconsin potatoes. But Tom Lundgren, president of the firm, said that practice is very true this season.

Citing excellent supplies and sizes running heavy to jumbos, Sweet Clover Produce Sales Manager Bill (Sweet Willie) Brownfield said Red Wings were moving very well going into the holiday season.

From his Walla Walla, WA, office Mr. Brownfield said Nov. 16 that supplies will remain good through May, and he added that some colossal are available.

"We have virtually no mediums," he said of the famed single-center onions.

In anticipation of onion sales ramping up for the 2010 holiday season, Nancy Carter, owner of Parma, ID-based Savory Sweet LLC, said her sales and marketing company has seen its biggest gains this year in retail.

Ms. Carter, who launched Savory Sweet in April 2010, has more than 25 years' experience in produce sales. For the past decade she has focused on Spanish Sweets from Idaho-Eastern Oregon’s Treasure Valley. She noted the goal of Savory Sweet is to "align good customers with good growers and packers."