VINELAND, NJ — The afternoon of Monday, Aug. 20, was sunny and warm in southern New Jersey, a typical summer day: highs in the 80s, a slight chance of rain. It was on this day, late in the afternoon, that The Produce News spoke to Tom Consalo of The Fresh Wave.

“This time of the year is sort of like the calm before the storm — between the summer crops and [the start of] the fall crops,” he said.

Looking back at the 2012 season, Mr. Consalo talked of “an early spring and an early summer,” with most crops harvested a couple of weeks early, thanks to a very mild winter and early spring.

Asked about the summer items, Mr. Consalo Tom Consalosaid that summer “went fairly well.” It was “a bit of a volatile summer overall, but looking back, it was a good season.”

Looking ahead to how the fall crops may turn out, he said, “Right now, if the weather could stay the way it’s been — warm days, mild nights — we’d be in fantastic shape.” And unlike the very early harvests of the spring and summer crops, he believes that barring any unforeseen weather events, “right now the fall [crops] look to be on schedule.”

Mr. Consalo addressed the perception still held by many that New Jersey’s produce season somehow comes to end around Labor Day. “The fall is the forgotten Jersey season,” he stated. “It’s every bit one-third of our season. It’s a very important part of our business.”

While the Garden State is well known for its asparagus in the spring and for its blueberries and tomatoes during the summer, the fall season is marked more by “back to basics” items for consumers. With good weather, “The lettuces will be very strong,” he said. Consumers should see “all the herbs, all the cooking greens.” He added, “Fall is more known for its staple items, plus yams, pumpkins and other Halloween type items.”

Blueberries are the top item at the company, which sources them from all over the world. Domestically, the South begins usually around late winter or early spring, followed by the Carolinas. New Jersey harvests its berries from around late June until early September or so. Michigan, the Northwest and British Columbia come next.

While Mr. Consalo was looking forward to the state’s fall deal and the full array of vegetables it would offer to consumers, he was also eagerly awaiting the continuation of its blueberry deal, which basically runs all year long.

“The fall for us is exciting because we’re getting ready to get into the imported blueberry deal,” said Mr. Consalo. The imported berries are “part of the year-round blueberry deal offered by The Fresh Wave.”

Mr. Consalo joined The Fresh Wave in September 2011 as director of sales. He was promoted at the beginning of August 2012 to vice president of operations, a new position for the company, which is headquartered here in the southern part of the state.