After decades at its South Hackensack, NJ, location, Maurice A. Auerbach has settled into its new high-tech facility in Secaucus, NJ.

Bruce Klein, director of marketing for the company, said that the new facility is a state-of-the-art structure that was designed and built for the future.

“Fruit Logistica is the largest trade show in the world for our industry,” Nelly Yunta, vice president of U.S. imports, customs brokerage and consulting for Customized Brokers in Miami, FL, the customs brokerage division of Crowley Marine Corporation, told The Produce News. “Attending the show not only allows us to discuss and discover the latest trends regarding fresh produce, it is an opportunity to interact with many of our customers and other growers and importers who will be part of the more than 50,000 people attending.”

What a difference a year makes. By Christmas 2010, Florida strawberry growers had already weathered two hard freezes and three weeks of bad weather that wiped out the season's most profitable month. This year, because the weather was so perfect, some growers had berries before Thanksgiving and production was in full swing across the state's production area well before Christmas.

The Giumarra Cos. announced Dec. 29 that it would work with RD8 Fresh Produce from New Zealand to offer apricots and cherries this season.

NoKota Packers Inc., headquartered in Buxton, ND, is seeing good movement with its potato crop. “We have shipped approximately 36 percent of our projected tonnage as of the end of November,” Chief Executive Officer and President Steve Tweten told The Produce News Dec. 15. “We are experiencing good holiday demand. Our color and quality are great.”