Opinions vary on the size of the Idaho potato crop this year, and certainly yields will vary from one producer to another and one farm to another. But Wilcox Fresh, exclusive marketing company for Floyd Wilcox & Sons Inc., anticipates a “very large” crop of Idaho russet potatoes for the 2012 harvest, according to Jim Richter, executive vice president of sales and marketing.

With a network of 60 co-packers in 24 states and another nine co-packers in Canada, Idaho Falls, ID-based Potandon Produce is “the largest marketer of fresh potatoes and one of the largest marketers of onions in North America,” according to the company website.

The company markets the “SunSpiced” brand and also has “exclusive license rights to market fresh potatoes and onions utilizing the Green Giant Fresh brand in North America.”

San Diego-based Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce hired CAMERON MALCHOW in early August to assist Tom Lyons in the retail sales and operations sector of its business.

In his new position, Mr. Malchow will be primarily handling tomatoes and cucumbers. Before joining Andrew & Williamson, he was studying international business at California Baptist University. This is his first job in the produce industry.

TRACY, CA-based GloriAnn Farms and its partner, Five Crowns Marketing, announced their "Corn for the Cause" promotion for National Breast Cancer Awareness month. For every retail case of corn sold during October, GloriAnn Farms will make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which promotes early detection awareness and mammograms for women in need.

A new trend in foodservice is the growing use of food trucks, long the domain of independent operators, by major restaurant chains and franchises. It is a concept that has become a significant growth area for Idaho potatoes, according to Don Odiorne, vice president of foodservice for the commission.

Sizzler, Red Robin and Jack-in-the-Box are among “a number of chains that have gotten into this,” Mr. Odiorne said.

In addition, “some of the star chefs are now doing street trucks,” he said.

California’s kiwifruit industry expects volume decreases on the order of approximately 20 percent this season. Chris Kragie, deciduous fruit manager for Western Fresh Marketing in Madera, CA, said difficult weather is responsible for some of the impact to the 2012 crop.

“As an industry we have been hit by freeze and hail this growing season,” Mr. Kragie told The Produce News on Sept. 5. “This has created some loss in the orchards.”