Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, held an event Aug. 29 at the site of Tops' future Irondequoit, NY, location to announce the new store prototype as part of Tops' current $13 million investment in its Monroe County stores.

BENTON HARBOR, MI — “We increase our Gala production every year,” said Barry Winkel, general manager and a partner in the family firm Greg Orchards & Produce Inc., located here. While Greg Orchards primarily ships Red and Golden Delicious apples, the Galas are coming on strong. He noted that Rome and Winesap shipments for Greg Orchards decline each year.

“The ‘South African Summer Citrus’ program is a complement to the U.S. domestic citrus program,” said Suhanra Conradie, chief executive officer of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum based in Citrusdal, South Africa. “It has been the model of the consortium of growers approved to export to the U.S. to not compete with the domestic citrus, but rather to complement it arriving in the U.S. after the domestic season is completed. Our citrus will continue to arrive into September and will be available through October in the marketplace.”

BELDING, MI — When Chris Sandwick joined the staff of Belleharvest Sales Inc., here, in January, the firm’s new vice president of sales and marketing brought some interesting and valuable experience.

Sandwick moved from Lake City, MN, where he worked for a decade and served as the director of sales and marketing for Courtier’s Pepin Heights. Pepin Heights focused on niche marketing and new special fruit varieties. Direct consumer contact is emphasized as Pepin Heights succeeds with an emphasis on tasty, popular new varieties.

Jack Wallace, co-owner and sales manager of G&D Wallace/Wallace Farms, is extending an invitation to current and future customers to visit the farm in Burlington and find out how generational expertise translates to production of the finest quality potatoes in Washington’s Skagit Valley. “We have been growing potatoes in the Skagit Valley for more than a century, and currently three generations are involved in the business,” Wallace said. “Experience is relevant to producing great results, and we are focused on doing the best possible job for our customers.”

The Organic Trade Association’s 2013 Organic Industry Survey, conducted and produced by Nutrition Business Journal, indicates that the U.S. organic product market continued to climb in 2012, putting more distance between the growth of today and the difficulties of the recession in 2009.

More than 200 companies responded to the survey, which was conducted from Jan. 25, 2013 through April 5, 2013. It includes revenues reported in narrow ranges, sales growth, revenue by product and sales channel breakdowns.