HILLSDALE, NJ — With the New Jersey Department of Agriculture hosting its Eastern Produce Council meeting for the 26th consecutive year, a big crowd was on hand, as usual, at Demarest Farm, here.

VINELAND, NJ — The market was seeing good movement of blueberries from Georgia and North Carolina at the end of May with the harvest of New Jersey blues looking to begin around the middle of June, according to Skip Consalo, president of The Fresh Wave.

That puts the timing of blueberries from all areas in the South and East more or less back to normal after last year, which saw the earliest harvest dates for blueberries (and many other items) earlier than in several decades.

LISA MARIE MOORE joined Bakersfield, CA-based Terra Bella Farms as a salesperson.

In her new position, Moore is responsible for calling customers to book orders and following up during the process, pick-ups and deliveries.

Moore has been working in the produce industry for four years. Before joining Terra Bella Farms, she worked for Jennings Transfer & Storage.

Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo, also referred to as JF/DC, headquartered in Pescadero, CA, has practiced innovative organic growing methods, and has been an organic industry leader for over three decades.

Martori Farms, an Arizona-based grower and shipper of premium cantaloupes and honeydews, has a new offering for the summer: the Kandy Lemondrop melon.

The Lemondrop is extra sweet with a flavor profile similar to a Galia, but with a refreshing tart lemon finish that comes from the melon's naturally occurring citrus acid.

With its distinct exterior appearance, high Brix level and one-of-a-kind flavor profile, the Kandy Lemondrop melon is a unique addition to any produce department.

The grape tomato category has seen significant growth in recent years and it has reached the point where it makes economic sense for Sambrailo Packaging to manufacture one-pound RunRite grape tomato clamshells in its Mexican plant.

“This will give us quicker turnaround time for our customers in Mexico,” said Jim Scattini, vice president of sales and marketing for the company.

“It also lets us avoid some of the issues involved at the border crossing” with regard to bringing empty clamshells from the United States down into Mexico, he said.