FRESNO, CA — As reported previously in The Produce News, Omar Abu Ghazaleh, formerly a manager at Pacific Trellis Fruit LLC in Reedley, CA, has founded a new grower-direct produce importing and marketing company, OAG Global Inc., headquartered here. In an Oct. 10 press release, the company announced “its debut import season with a prominent stake in the Peruvian table grape category.”

Soon to follow will be other products from Peru such as avocados as well as grapes and premium conditioned tree fruit from Chile.

Nelly Yunta, vice president of U.S. imports, customs brokerage and consulting for Customized Brokers in Miami, the customs brokerage division of Crowley Marine Corp., told The Produce News that the company caters almost exclusively to fruits and vegetables.

“We are solely dedicated to the produce industry and our business is streamlined to handle perishables exclusively,” said Frank Ramos, a partner with his wife, Ana, in The Perishable Specialist Inc. in Miami. “We deal with the same government agencies and departments, the same vendors and the same steamship lines because this is all we do every day, twenty-four hours a day. We are the epitome of streamlined process when it comes to clearing imported fruits and vegetables.”

Ecoripe Tropicals’ Asian vegetable program was in full swing in late November.

The company, in Medley, FL, is an importer and distributor of a full line of quality tropical, Asian and specialty produce. It sources from Central American countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and Costa Rica, according to Marc Holbik, vice president.

Sam Jones, Florida citrus operations manager for Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., headquartered in Oviedo, FL, said that the company’s volumes are ahead of last season on all varieties.

“We were able to capture an early-season start from Southwest Florida in the Gulf growing district,” said Mr. Jones. “We are pleased with the steady movement and firm f.o.b., and we are seeing less volatility in the market this season.”

It takes a high-quality product to make the cut for the Wm. Manis Co. of Plant City, FL’s “Ultra” label. This year, the company has an abundance of large, super-sweet citrus to meet growing demand.

“We’ve had great growing weather. There were no storms so the fruit looks good and the color is outstanding,” said President Rick Sullivan. “After the freezes last December and January, we had a huge bloom. We had rain at the right times and the result is an excellent quality citrus crop.”