CalFlowers Fun 'N Sun Convention: All About Flowers was a blast as old friends and new contacts reveled in Victorian grandeur at Hotel del Coronado as the floral industry reunited for the 3 day event.

The 2022 New Jersey potato season has been characterized by good growing conditions, good yields, good quality and good pricing, according to Ron Budd, vice president of Gloucester County Packing Corp. in Woodbury, NJ.

“Up until early July, we had near-perfect growing conditions, an ample amount of rain and cool nights, which potatoes like,” Budd said Friday morning, Aug. 12. “But then in mid-July it turned hot and dry, but it didn’t really affect potato growers as much because they all have irrigation and were able to finish off the crop nicely.”

Produce veteran Mike Madden started Macadu Fresh in March of 2021, a company focused on growing, importing and distributing quality fresh fruits from its headquarters in Vineland, NJ, as well as a space in Miami.

“We have an office and warehouse in both, but the warehouse in Miami through our partner is mainly into flowers, though we have access to 100,000 square feet there,” he said. “We are in the process of hiring a salesman to work out of the Miami office.”

SweeTango apple growers and packers are universally singing the praises of this year’s crop, and urging retailers to place orders now to take advantage of the brand’s marketing plans. Fruit will start shipping right after Labor Day.

“I don’t remember ever having as nice a crop hanging on the trees as we’ve got this year, both volume and quality,” said Scott Swindeman with SweeTango Midwest region sales desk Applewood Fresh. “With this high quality a crop, it is going to sell itself.”

Weis Markets launched its second annual Great Grape Event, which offers customers over 15 varieties of grapes grown in California and the South. The program runs through September.

“The typical American supermarket sells five varieties of grapes, but since it’s the best time of year for grapes, we have decided to offer our customers increased variety, including Sweet Sapphires, Razzles, Dazzles and Scuppernongs,” said Weis Markets Director of Produce Kevin Weaver. “These are some of the best grapes you never tasted.”

Starting with the 2022 apple crop Sage Fruit Co. will have SugarBee apples available for its retail and wholesale partners as a result of its newly formed partnership with Chelan Fruit.

“We feel this is an excellent opportunity for our organization and we are thrilled to be able to supply our retail and wholesale partners, as well as our food service customers with the SugarBee,” said Chuck Sinks, Sage Fruit’s president of sales and marketing.