One of the most visible transformations in recent years in the California table grape industry has been the proliferation of new grape varieties, some from university programs and some from private breeding programs.

The Sykes Co. Inc. in Nogales, AZ, is continuing on a steady course in its fresh table grapes program out of Mexico, according to President William (Bill) Sykes.

“We will have Superiors and we will have a few Perlettes and Flames. There is no change at all,” Mr. Sykes told The Produce News April 8.

The company’s grapes are grown in the coastal region of Hermosillo, Sonora.

Primavera Marketing Inc. in Linden, CA, has added a new cherry line to its packing facility, giving the company five cherry packinglines in all.

“We are in process of completing a brand new cherry packingline that will be our fourth here on site to package red cherries,” said Richard Sambado, president and director of domestic marketing, in an interview with The Produce News April 5.”We previously had three red lines plus one Rainier line. Now we have four lines plus the Rainier line.”

Peri & Sons Farms Inc. is distinguishing itself in the California onion deal with a calculated business plan that emphasizes quality product production, branding and vertical integration.

“We at JemD Farms are really looking forward to the CPMA Convention & Trade Show in Toronto in April,” Jim DiMenna, president of JemD Farms, told The Produce News. “JemD Farms’ booth number is 600, and we will have a full crew of staff members on hand to meet and greet customers to share all of the exciting things going on in our company currently.”

TOM LANGE was promoted to Union Pacific Railroad's assistant vice president of corporate communications, succeeding Donna Kush, who was recently promoted to vice president of public affairs for the Northern Region.

Mr. Lange, a former newspaper editor with more than 25 years of media relations and communications experience in the consumer, manufacturing, sports and transportation industries, had been director of corporate communications at Union Pacific. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Webster University in St. Louis.