Originally named Rebel Farms because everyone doubted that Belgian-style endive could be grown successfully in America, California Vegetable Specialties has a new name: California Endive Farms.

Founded in 1983 with just five acres by Rich Collins and his wife, Shelly, the company is the leading grower of white endive in the United States and one of the larger growers of red endive in the world.

Mann Packing is expanding its staff with two new hires. Denise Takakjian joins the sales staff to replace Bixby Ramsey, who is moving to field operations, and Brian Bengard is the new regional sales manager for the company's foodservice division in the Western United States.

With the start of fall, apples are showing up in the produce aisle in a big way. And Sweetie, a new and intensely sweet and crunchy apple variety from FirstFruits of Washington, is making an appearance at retail this September.

Wada Farms Potatoes Inc. in Pingree, ID, whose potatoes are marketed by Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC in Idaho Falls, ID, has been historically known primarily as a russet potato grower and shipper. However, lately the company has been increasing its production of an assortment of non-russet potato varieties such as reds, yellows and mini-potatoes.

Wada Farms Marketing also markets potatoes exclusively for several other packingshed around the state.

Summer heat is expected to cause some reduction in onion sizing for Ontario Produce, headquartered in Ontario, OR. Sales Manager Bob Komoto said weather presented its own set of challenges during 2012. “Early in the season after planting, there was hail and wind that thinned several fields and force some replanting,” he told The Produce News on Sept. 4. “The early part of summer was ideal. But in the latter part of July and early August we had seven to 10 days of over 100-degree weather. That aged the crop and probably will cause some size reductions.”

Chelan Fresh Marketing hired ROBYN STEVENSON as quality-assurance inspector in 2011 and recently promoted her to production analyst-scheduler.

In her position as production analyst-scheduler, Ms. Stevenson does all the apple-packing schedules for Chelan Fruit.