Through the cooperative efforts of the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (USA Onions) and Boise, ID-based St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, women in the Treasure Valley were given access to screening services at a mobile mammogram unit that visited various packing sheds in the onion-growing region.

The services were provided during December and were available to shed employees and members of the community. According to IEOOC Marketing Director Sherise Jones, the mobile unit spent a half day at participating sheds.

Demand for organic mushrooms is growing, according to Kevin Donovan, national sales manager for Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA.

Mr. Donovan noted that new customers for organic mushrooms are emerging, and most of them are in the retail sector. He said that mainstream organic retailers as well as mainstream conventional retail customers have started to push more organic products in their stores.

Spice World Inc.’s organic version of its popular “Squeeze Garlic” product was a natural move for the Orlando, FL-based company.

Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World, said that the company has handled organic products for nearly a decade.

Plant City, FL-based Wish Farms has been known as an innovator for decades, even when it was Wishnatzki Farms, which was before a major rebranding effort created the more user-friendly label. Third-generation owner Gary Wishnatzki led that charge via a focus on marketing, but he also keeps an eye on the products that have increasingly made the label a consumer favorite.

JEFFREY ARNOLD joined Edinburg Citrus Association, based in Edinburg, TX, as an intern from Texas A&M in August, and he was recently promoted to a sales position.

In his new role at Edinburg Citrus, Mr. Arnold handles grapefruit and orange sales.

Just like last year, C&D Fruit and Vegetable Co. of Bradenton, FL, has high-quality Florida strawberries in abundance. Unlike last year, the company also has solid markets for that fruit.

Last year’s crop created bargain basement prices for consumers but did little for grower-shippers.

In 2011-12, Mexico “crashed the party” and some Florida growers “just went stupid” and planted “more acreage than they can market,” said C&D’s Tom O’Brien.