Leamington, ON-based Nature Fresh Farms received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Ontario Produce Marketing Association's Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 8 at the Liberty Grand-Exhibition Place. The award is given out annually to honor those who have significantly contributed to improving the industry.

Great West Produce Co., based in Los Angeles, named Ken Ewalt vice president of new business development.

Ewalt has worked in the food industry for more than 30 years. He started his career as a bag boy for Jewel food stores in Chicago, and over the next 13 years took on other responsibilities and gained experiences by working in every department of the store.

Lone Star Citrus Growers in Mission, TX, is well-prepared for growing in the Lone Star State. Record drought is a threat to many producers, but Lone Star has its water rights secured at least through next season. And the discovery of a backyard citrus tree infected with citrus greening disease — the second outbreak in the Rio Grande Valley in two years — is cause for concern but not for alarm with the Valley’s growers coordinating spraying for the psyllid that spreads the disease.

Windset Farms, grower of greenhouse produce items, headquartered in Delta, BC, has completed the 64 acre expansion of its greenhouses located in Santa Maria, CA, bringing the total acreage to 128 that is now in full production.

Awe Sum Organics, a leading importer of organic apples and organic kiwifruit, will supply organic red and green seedless grapes to the United States and Canada beginning in late December.

Baloian Farms has recently introduced a merchandising bin for hard squash.

The goal of this new bin design is to provide a single merchandising source that will display various varieties of hard squash in one easy-to-access location on the retail floor, as well as make retail ordering and store merchandising easier.