According to David DeBerry of watermelon and onion specialists Crescent Fruit and Vegetable LLC in Edinburg, TX, three things matter when striving to deliver a premium product: quality, supply and consistency in both.

Crescent partners with top-notch growers in diverse locations to ensure supply of premium watermelons and onions under its “Moonlit Farms” label. Situated in what the company calls the “watermelon and onion belt” of North America, Moonlit Farms are located throughout Texas and Mexico.

General Manager Chris Streef of Streef Produce Ltd. is pleased business is back on track this year. Last April, the combination grower-importer-wholesaler was hit with a frost at the beginning of the crop, which knocked it down 30 percent.

This spring, Mr. Streef is looking forward to continued involvement with OPMA initiatives as the company gears up for the season.

With an aggressive growth strategy planned for the next five years, Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd. is positioned to be one of the larger growers of nectarines in Canada and on the Eastern Seaboard.

Vineland is a major stone fruit packer in Eastern Canada and sells over 55 percent of the Ontario stone fruit crop. It provides sales service for its members for stone fruit and fresh market grapes, selling fruit across Canada.

Gregory Connell, co-owner of Clarity Marketing and former retail and wholesale professional, is stepping up his involvement with Nova Scotia-based TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture Ltd.

As an advisor for TruLeaf, Mr. Connell has helped lead its market-development activities to date. Mr. Connell will also help oversee and lead the development of its farm operations and consumer products using alternative farming methods in the interest of year-round supply, freshness and sustainability.

Nogales, AZ-based Ciruli Bros.

Kurt Zuhlke & Associates will be exhibiting at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention & Trade Show in Toronto April 17-19. Kurt Zuhlke, owner and president of the company, will be there to greet customers and prospective customers. He will be presenting the company’s entire line of clamshells, liners, films, corrugated materials and other packaging options.