Leo Rolandelli, the longtime produce veteran and president of Jacobs, Malcolm & Burtt, based in San Francisco, predicted in late July that this could be a difficult year for Peruvian asparagus.

A year ago, lower prices ended the Mexican asparagus deal a bit early and caused the Bay Area wholesaler to start importing asparagus from Peru a bit earlier than usual.

Through most of the peak shipping period last year, imported Peruvian asparagus was exposed to a more strict and lengthy fumigation process resulting in delays, increased costs and a degradation of quality.

In 2011, Ayco Farms Inc., which is headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, experienced tremendous growth in its Peruvian asparagus deal, but this year company officials say overall volume should be down, which will slow its growth.

Last year Ayco hired Peruvian asparagus veteran Tim Ryan to oversee its planned growth, and 2011 was a great year for the firm, which calls itself one of the top five players in that commodity.

TULARE, CA — Sundale Sales Inc., here, expects to ship close to four million boxes of grapes this year, as the company’s volume continues to grow.

There were increases at the beginning of the season with Suraones and Flames. “We doubled our Flame acreage over last year” as “new vineyards came into play,” said President Sean Stockton.

Certified Onions Inc., which is now in its fourth year of business as a nonprofit organization, continues to operate on agriculture’s cutting edge by bringing the safest-possible quality product to the marketplace. President Kay Riley, who is also general manager of Snake River Produce Co. in Nyssa, OR, said ongoing trade missions continue to validate the organization’s diligence and dedication to food safety.

As 2012 reaches the halfway mark and the second quarter comes to a close, the National Mango Board is seeing strong results in key programs geared toward national media.

The board works closely with writers and editors to increase fresh mango coverage and knowledge of the versatile and wholesome fruit in magazines, newspapers and on websites throughout the year.