Mayra Velazquez de Leon, president of Organics Unlimited, said she couldn’t have ordered better weather for the current banana season. “Weather means everything to us,” she told The Produce News. “Weather-wise, we’ve had the best.” And she quickly added that good weather translates to a quality season for the fruit.

HILLSDALE, NJ — Retailers and other distributors of New Jersey produce crops have enjoyed good early-season items so far this year, and they can look forward to high-quality vegetables, a full crop of peaches and a beautiful harvest of blueberries as the 2013 season progresses, according to several reports given at the June 11 meeting of Eastern Produce Council.

With the New Jersey Department of Agriculture hosting the event for the 26th consecutive year, a big crowd was on hand, as usual, at Demarest Farm, here, in northern New Jersey to hear the reports.

Charles (Chuck) Collings, a longtime member of the grocery industry, died June 8 at the age of 87.

Mr. Collings spent nearly 50 years holding various positions at the West Sacramento grocery chain, including time as the president and chief executive officer of Raley’s Superstores.

After his retirement in 1998, Mr. Collings continued to serve on the company’s board, holding the title of CEO emeritus.

Total acreage planted and yet to be planted this season for cantaloupes on the West Side of California’s San Joaquin Valley is expected to be similar to last year, with perhaps a slight variation up or down depending on the observer.

Anthony Vineyards Inc. in Bakersfield, CA, which grows grapes in the Coachella Valley of California, the earliest district in the state, and also in the southern San Joaquin Valley, expects to begin the transition from the desert deal in Coachella into the San Joaquin Valley deal in late June this year, according to John Harley, vice president of sales and marketing.

The company expects overlap between the two deals, due to the grapes in Coachella running later than usual and an anticipated earlier-than-usual start in the San Joaquin Valley.

Columbine Vineyards in Delano, CA, which grows grapes in the San Joaquin Valley of California, both in the Arvin area and in Delano, expects a sizeable crop for the 2013 season.

“It is looking like a big year” with “lots of fruit, lots of bunches,” Sales Manager Anthony Stetson said in an interview with The Produce News. “It is too early to say on quality, but if everything comes to fruition, it will be a nice volume year.”