FRESNO, CA — Karen Brux, vice president of marketing communications for the California Table Grape Commission, said the difference between this year and previous years in the commission’s consumer and trade marketing program is a stronger focus on health and usage.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but a couple of transportation experts say the best bet during a tight transportation situation is to not try to get the lowest price possible.

Sure, it might be possible to guess right and secure some loads at a very low price by timing the market, but in the long run that could cost a firm more in poor service and not being able to secure that same truck next time around.

San Joaquin Tomato Growers Inc. in Crows Landing, CA, has hired industry veteran Joseph de la Ossa on its sales desk to help fill the void left by the untimely death of Mark Perez earlier this spring.

For more than 60 years, The Lagorio Family of Companies has been growing, packing, and shipping the finest quality products for its customers. The family farming operation has several different farming ventures including Ace Tomato Co. Inc. in Manteca, CA.

With the approach of the summer season, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce in San Diego will be continuing “the roll-out and development of our heirloom tomato program,” according to Mark Munger, vice president of marketing.

From June through December, Oxnard, CA-based Eclipse Berry Farm LLC is one of the larger grape tomato shippers in the country.

Stuart Gilfenbain, who handles sales for the firm along with longtime business partner Rick Hearst, said they have about 360 acres of grape tomatoes this year. He doesn’t know for sure what the second-largest acreage is in the country but he has heard of no grower that has more than a couple of dozen acres.

“We are grape tomato specialists and that has worked very well for us,” said Mr. Gilfenbain.