LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The California Grape & Tree Fruit League held its 77th annual meeting March 25 in Laguna Beach, CA, which featured an industry workshop on what keeps farmers awake at night, the election of a chairman and board of directors, and the recognition of three League members.

MADERA, CA — At Stellar Distributing, here, the California fig deal is getting sweeter in two ways. There's a new, sweeter variety and it's coming into big production this summer.

Stellar introduced an exciting new variety to its extensive California fig program several years ago. The Tiger fig has striped green and yellow skin, a unique flavor and a bright red flesh that set it apart from traditional figs.

Mark Shuman, Buck Shuman and John Shuman.The Vidalia Onion Committee hosted its annual awards banquet Feb.

Though Bland Farms LLC has become an international giant in the sweet onion industry, the empire was built on Vidalia onions and they remain at the top of the pecking order at the company’s Glennville, GA, headquarters.

Bland is the world’s largest grower-shipper of Vidalia onions and has a 12-month sweet onion program with farms around the world. But owner Delbert Bland is planning for even bigger and better things.

Well-Pict Inc., headquartered in Watsonville, CA, has strawberry production in several California districts as well as in Baja California, Mexico, and in each location it grows proprietary varieties from its own breeding programs, which are selected to give the best results and the best possible flavor and eating experience from that particular district, according to Sales Manager Dan Crowley.

Belle Glade, FL-based S.M. Jones & Co., a year-round supplier of fresh sweet corn, welcomed MICHAEL BAST to its sales team on Jan. 2.

In his new role as sales account manager, Mr. Bast manages and maintains relationships with retail and wholesale market accounts. Prior to joining S.M. Jones, Mr. Bast worked for Duda Farm Fresh Foods for four years.