Northampton Growers on solid schedule with good volumes and great quality
“We are scheduled to start cabbage movement in Georgia on April 22,” Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers, headquartered in Cheriton, VA, told The Produce News on April 16. “Cucumbers are scheduled to start around May 15, followed by peppers on May 25 and eggplant on the first of June.”
Mr. Cullen noted that the company was wrapping up the last week of cabbage movement in Florida in mid-April.
Solar panels reduce costs at Richard Bagdasarian Inc.
Nick Bozick, president of Richard Bagdasarian Inc. in Mecca, CA, said the company’s new solar panels are the first thing you might notice as you drive up to its packingshed.
The longtime Coachella Valley grape veteran said the company added the solar panels for a multitude of reasons. “In the first place, we believe it is the right thing to do to reduce our energy consumption,” he said. “Secondly we have been told that it will lower our costs and we were given multiple incentives from county, state and federal agencies that made it very attractive.”
Bland preparing further offerings in value-added Vidalia Brands line
Over the last decade, Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, has grown from one of the better-known grower-shippers of Vidalia onions to a 12-month player in the category with operations around the Western Hemisphere. But owner Delbert Bland never forgets that the Vidalia product is what made it all happen.
Anthony Vineyards continues expansion in organic grapes
For the past eight years, Anthony Vineyards has been increasing its production of organic grapes from California in an effort to offer a full program for the length of the deal. With 25-30 percent of its output now devoted to that classification, it has reached its goal.
Stevco executive expects strong season ahead for Calif. grapes
Buoyed by an increase in the up-and-coming Scarlet Royal variety, David Clyde, president of Stevco, which has several offices around California, sees a strong start to the state’s fresh grape deal when Coachella Valley kicks off this month.
Mr. Clyde said the increase in the red seedless Scarlet Royal variety from this desert region will combine with a very good crop of large-sized Flame Seedless as well as “decent sized” Sugraones, which are a green seedless variety, to give many shippers at least three strong varieties to sell.
Jimmy Myrick: Georgia crops are running late, but in great condition
“Our Georgia crops began around about two weeks later than normal this year,” said,” said Jimmy Myrick, vice president of Edward L. Myrick Produce in Andersonville, GA. “We will start on May 15 with squash and beans, but things may speed up a little depending on the weather. The crops, we’re happy to report, are all in good condition.”
Mr. Myrick added that the region got a lot of moisture that slowed the growth of the crops, but the company was fortunately spared any hail damage that affected some other growers in Georgia.
Status quo working for Desert Fresh
While change can be a good thing, the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” seems to be the philosophy of Desert Fresh, located in Coachella, CA.
For 20 years, partners Tony Bianco and Blaine Carian, two third-generation Coachella Valley grape growers and marketers, have been participating in the short-lived local grape deal and doing quite well. “It works great for us,” said Mr. Bianco, who serves as the president of the company and lone salesman. Mr. Carian is the grower for the partnership.
East West trades on early niche
The key to being successful with seasonal supplies is to be able to fill a niche, said Steve Root, who is president of East West Unlimited LLC, a grape grower-shipper in California’s Coachella Valley.
“You’ve got to have a niche, and my niche is I am early,” he said. “I’m in the deal when there is still great demand. Most of my crop is sold in May when you just can’t get enough grapes.”
Prime Time International forecasts continued growth for peppers
Anchored by its line of colored peppers, Prime Time International of Coachella, CA, offers a variety of vegetables to its customers on a year-round basis, but always looks forward to field production moving to its home base at this time of year.
Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable making major facility improvements
Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable has made several facility and internal improvements over the past year.
Dug Schwalls, director of sales for the company, headquartered in Norman Park, GA, said, “We added nearly 80,000 square feet of cooling space to our Georgia facility this year. And we have installed a new squash packingline in the past year.”
Mr. Schwalls said that the company grows and packs its own farm-grown product.