WENATCHEE, WA -- An ample supply of premium Piñata apples is giving shoppers another reason to celebrate in the new year. Grown exclusively in Washington state by Stemilt Growers, Piñata apples are making their way back onto store shelves following a successful nationwide debut last January.

Nathan Farray appears to be a man on a mission. And that characterization is not just a metaphor.

The California native has deep roots in the wholesale produce business, and he plans to make it a career. In fact, he has focused on that goal for the past several years. However, he also feels the need to serve his country, and soon will be taking a hiatus from his produce industry job on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market to become a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Frank Gabriel Donio, a 45-year veteran of the produce industry and former president of Frank Donio Inc. in Hammonton, NJ, died Saturday, Jan. 1, at home. The cause of death was not immediately determined but might have been a heart attack, according to his son James.

California Giant Berry Farms, based in Watsonville, CA, is looking toward expanding its bush berry operations in the new year, including plans to hire a new general manager for its blueberry packing operations.

Last spring, the Watsonville, CA-based company launched a state-of-the-art cooling and packing facility in Aurora, OR, in time for the fresh blueberry harvest season. The 40,000-square-foot facility with forced-air tunnels resulted in improved post-harvest handling and overall fruit quality for the retailer and consumer.

As a fully integrated, year-round supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables, apples are an important part of Raleigh, NC-based L&M Cos.

"L&M handles a full line of apple varieties as well as organics," said Keith Horder, director of business development for Washington state, where the company's apples are produced. “All our apples are produced in Washington. This year we’ll handle 105 million cartons. This is higher than normal, but our percentage of the overall crop is about the same as last year.”

Northeast Apple Sales is upbeat about its winter apple supplies, which is showing excellent quality this year.

"All varieties except for the Romes have been moving very well this year," Frank Tangredi, president of Northeast Apple Sales, told The Produce News. “My strongest volume has always been the McIntosh, and that's true again this year. It’s my specialty apple.”

The company focuses on marketing apples from New York’s Champlain Valley and Hudson Valley regions. The majority of its product is marketed throughout the northeastern United States.