The New Jersey blueberry deal is a “short, fast season,” starting in mid-June and running about six weeks, with “really nice quality berries,” and it “plays an integral role” in Driscoll’s year-round blueberry program, bridging “the gap between North Carolina and Michigan,” said John Johnston, blueberry business director for Watsonville, CA-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc.

HAMMONTON, NJ — The 2011 New Jersey blueberry season was getting ready to begin when John Galaida, general manager of Pleasantdale Farms, spoke to The Produce News the first day of June. “You see a few berries starting to turn blue,” he said.

Cambridge Farms Inc. will move into its Eastern Shore potato deal with a smooth transition from Florida supplies. President Steve Cohen spoke with The Produce News May 27 from his office in Hastings, FL. “The [Florida] growers had a successful year and will clean up orderly,” he said.

The company has been in operation for 28 years, with corporate headquarters located in Avon, MA. Mr. Cohen operates the business with his partner, Ken Gad.

Tom Cullen, vice president of Thomas E. Moore in Dover, DE, told The Produce News June 2 that the company’s Florida potato deal was wrapping up and noted that quality has been strong.

“North Florida is on the tail end, and the crops have been very nice this year,” said Mr. Cullen. “The North Carolina crop is getting ready to start. It has been very dry there, but those crops also look nice, and conditions should be good for harvesting. We expect to get started there by the end of the second week of June.”

Tom Wright, manager of Laurel Farmers Auction Inc. in Laurel, DE, told The Produce News that the cooperative has had over 2,000 stockholders in its 71-year career.

“Despite the bad weather affecting many Midwest and Eastern states this year, we are having a normal season,” said Richard Papen, sales manager and member of the family owning Papen Farms Inc. in Dover, DE. “We’ve been spared those terrible tornados that have affected so many people. Our hearts go out to them. Other than it being a little dry, it’s a normal growing season for us.”