Shipments of early Galas on Aug. 29 led the way for Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers’ 2011 apple season, and Dan Wohlford, national sales representative for the Wenatchee, WA-based grower-shipper, said quality looks superior this year.

“Mother Nature really helped us out, and weather was very good for bringing sugar and sizes up,” Mr. Wohlford said Aug. 30.

“Goldens, Grannies, Jonagolds, Honeycrisps, Red Delicious and Fuji should get started in mid-September. Braeburns and Cameo will start in early October. And Pink Lady comes in late October,” he said.

Partnering with a national program to encourage healthy eating and physical exercise and playtime for youngsters, Chelan Fresh Marketing of Chelan, WA, is taking an active role in the fight against childhood obesity.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a campaign launched this year by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League, with additional partnership support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Keith Horder, director of business development for L&M Cos., had to chuckle a little when he contemplated the coming apple season. “The consistency this year is inconsistency,” he told The Produce News Aug. 29. “Growers have been hesitant to make predictions about crop size and product size.”

Stemilt Growers Inc., headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, continues to grow its organic apple program. “Twenty-five percent of our volume is organic,” Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl told The Produce News Aug. 30. “It continues to be a big, big part of our program.” Stemilt places strong emphasis on apples farmed for flavor and marketed under the “Artisan Organic” label.

“Retailers with good organic programs are seeing double-digit growth,” he said.

The week of Aug. 22, the Vista Hermosa Foundation released $1 million in emergency relief funds to aid organizations with their humanitarian relief effects in Somalia. The foundation was started in 1990 by Ralph and Cheryl Broetje, owners of Broetje Orchards in Prescott, WA.

Broetje Orchards, a leader in Washington’s apple growing and packing industry, was founded on the belief that faith and business can be incorporated in a single mission. Apples are marketed under the “FirstFruits of Washington” brand to global markets by FirstFruits Marketing in Yakima, WA.

Melinda Goodman, a 15-year veteran of the produce industry, recently opened Copper Penny Marketing, a marketing and consulting company specializing in fresh produce and food.

"I plan to offer clients a variety of services including brand management, new package development, promotional planning and public relations," Ms. Goodman said in an Aug. 23 e-mail to The Produce News.