Bill Litvin, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Giorgio Fresh Co. in Temple, PA, said that the company is preparing to participate in the Mushroom Council’s new summer “Swap It or Top It” recipe contest.

“We are challenging consumers to transform their typical summer grilling recipes using mushrooms by reinventing the turkey burger with the use of mushroom ‘swapability,’ such as topping a traditional beef burger with a grilled portabella, or combining all five food groups to create a tasty MyPlate burger,” said Mr. Litvin.

Above-average rainfall and unseasonably cold weather as late as Easter weekend combined to delay the start of the Vidalia sweet onion season, but growers have uncovered another issue with their 2013 crop: Seed stems, also referred to as "bolters," "flower stalks," or "seeders," are showing up throughout the Vidalia onion production district in alarming numbers.

Growers noted high percentages of seed stems in mid-April across the production area, according to the Vidalia Onion Committee.

Stand inside at one end of any of the four main rows of the Hunts Point Produce Market and look toward the far end. You will be looking into one-third of a mile from where you stand. There are four such rows, in addition to two smaller units at the market. It sits on 113 acres in the South Bronx section of New York and has 1 million square feet of interior space. The market opened in 1967.

About two decades ago, the market began operating as a cooperative with an elected board of directors representing the approximate 50 produce companies whose businesses are on the market.

After a 27-year partnership between grower and sales agent, Keber Distributing Inc., based in Thermal, CA, is planning to shut its door as early as the end of May as the two principals head into retirement.

Sales agent Dick Keber, who founded the company in 1986 in partnership with grower Joe Kitagawa, said that Mr. Kitagawa has signed an agreement to lease all 2,200 acres of his farmland to Bakersfield, CA, based Grimmway Farms and its Cal Organics division for the purpose of growing organic carrots and others crops.

Tops Market, a 155-store chain based in Williamsville, NY, with locations throughout upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, has launched a small-format, fresh-focused concept store called Orchard Fresh, which is located in the upscale Buffalo, NY, suburb of Orchard Park.

The store opened April 14, and so far it has exceeded expectations, according to Steve Wright, director of produce and floral.

DMA Solutions, an Irving, TX-based marketing agency for the fresh produce industry, announced the promotion of MEGAN ZWEIG to strategic marketing director.