Thanksgiving is a few days away, and current economic factors will likely mean this is will be the most expensive for consumers — perhaps ever.

Walter P. Rawl and Sons has been providing fresh vegetables from its family farm in Pelion, SC, for almost a century. 

As it does every year, the company will soon be headed to the New York Produce Show & Conference and is looking forward to the myriad opportunities that the show presents. 

International produce marketer Thomas C. Tjerandsen of Sonoma, CA, died Nov. 8 after a short illness at the age of 80. He was instrumental in the founding of the Pomegranate Council and had been its executive director since its inception in 1997. He was a leader in the California Agricultural Export Council, focused on several specialty crops.

Church Bros. has named Brian Hunt as its senior vice president of ag operations effective immediately.

Hunt has played an integral role in ag operations over the last nine years at Church Bros. and has been the managing partner for C&H Farms, a farming joint venture with Church Bros., for the past eight years. Hunt brings over 20 years of experience in farming and harvest operations, having worked for Tanimura & Antle and multiple farming operations over his career.

The North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect in 1994 and soon thereafter Phillip Garcia opened his customs house brokerage business.

“The first year, I crossed about 80 trucks,” he said speaking of the business he cleared from Mexico into the United States over the Pharr Bridge in South Texas. “The second year I did 500 trucks and we’ve been growing ever since. Now we clear about 9,000 to 10,000 trucks annually.”

Amid a smaller national apple crop, Cosmic Crisp apples will launch as a year-round variety on Dec. 1 as it grows in volume, especially in organics. Cosmic Crisp is poised for promotion this season and retailers can ensure an organic ring at checkout with Stemilt’s EZ Band.