KYM SANDERS joined Kerman, CA-based Riverbend Fresh LLC in May as a sales coordinator, where she is responsible for sales and coordination with the field, handling Bell peppers, grapes and organic heirloom tomatoes.

Christopher Ranch in Gilroy, CA, a major grower, packer and shipper of organic garlic, has been growing organically since 1997, and it handles organic products produced by other growing partners.

Patsy Ross, vice president of marketing, told The Produce News that the largest organic item in its line is its new 32-ounce of organic chopped garlic.

“We are working very diligently at Westside Produce and moving at a very rapid pace” to become Global Food Safety Initiative certified, Jim Malanca, a partner in Westside Produce in Firebaugh, CA, told The Produce News.

In the company’s desert melon deal in Southern California, that process was nearing completion at the end of May . “We have an audit going on today in the desert to finish up on that,” he said May 24.

Trenton, NJ — A very mild winter followed by an unseasonably warm spring has brought New Jersey blueberries to market well ahead of normal schedule. Most growers are noting they are well into harvest, and supplies and quality are excellent.

Spring weather issues and a larger crop have combined to produce very good supplies of smaller-sized avocados value priced just in time for a huge Fourth of July promotion being touted by the California Avocado Commission.

“There are reasonably good supplies of 60- and 70-size avocados that are priced really well for aggressive promotions,” said Phil Henry, president of Henry Avocado Corp. in Escondido, CA.

WASHINGTON — While the Senate debates the 2012 farm bill this week, produce trade groups are calling on members to support key funding priorities, including the Market Access Program, that could be endangered by the more than 300 amendments filed on the bill in recent days.