Lufa Farms began with an idea to provide local produce to the community. Five years of developing the project and today, Lufa Farms is feeding over two thousand customers weekly from it’s Montreal 31, 000-square-foot rooftop greenhouse. Founded by Mohamed Hage, the city farm provides fresh produce baskets direct to consumers. Customers can order a variety of baskets some supplemented with organic product from local farms.

Fred Recchiuti, general manager of Basciani Mushroom Farms in Avondale, PA, told The Produce News that mushrooms are definitely on the super-food list today, and interest is stronger than ever.

“But the mushroom industry is facing some serious challenges,” said Mr. Recchiuti. “Our input costs are higher than ever, and we’re facing a critical shortage of growing medium due to the drought. Corn crops are dying all across the Midwest, and we’re worried about getting enough corn hay to maintain production.”

A large supply of clementines this summer from multiple points of origin has created a very difficult and different marketing situation for the commodity this year.

Chile, Peru and South Africa each sent more fruit to the U.S. East Coast this summer, with a great deal of it bunching up during June and July.

Mayda Sotomayor, chief executive officer of Seald Sweet International in Vero Beach, FL, said that the increased volume tells part of the story.

Ryan Holterhoff, director of marketing and industry affairs for the Washington State Potato Commission in Moses Lake, WA, said the organization is coordinating a variety of promotional programs to strengthen awareness about potatoes from the Evergreen State.

FRESNO, CA — Crown Jewels Produce Co., here, “will be going hot and heavy on grapes” through the months of August, September, October and November,” said Atomic Torosian, an owner of the company. “Our tonnage is up a little bit this year,” quality is better than last year, and movement has been good.

Lawrence (Larry) W. Krempel, who spent 37 years in produce merchandising and procurement with the Kroger Co., died unexpectedly Aug. 3 at University Hospital in Cincinnati. He was 61. The cause of death was not immediately available.