Vidalia Brands, a sister company of Bland Farms LLC, a leading grower-packer-shipper of the Vidalia sweet onions, has entered into a licensing agreement with specialty food manufacturer Inventure Foods to develop a line of prepackaged snacks for vending, grocery and convenience store distribution.

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., a grower-owned agricultural cooperative based in Lakeville-Middleboro, MA, has acquired the cranberry processing business of Agrícola Cran Chile Limitada, based in Lanco, Región de los Ríos, Chile.

The acquisition will expand Ocean Spray's multinational footprint and give it a sizable presence in an important cranberry-growing region. Cran Chile will retain its world-class cranberry-growing operation and its raspberry and blueberry juice concentrate business.

Jeff Cleveringa, head of research and development for Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, has been named incoming president of the Washington State Horticultural Association. Mr. Cleveringa’s work with Oneonta takes him around the world to evaluate the latest in orchard and packinghouse technologies, new orchard systems and the latest in new apple and cherry varieties.

Diverse apple varieties, top quality and impressive product movement are signs of the times for Stemilt Growers Inc. in Wenatchee, WA.

“Apple movement has been outstanding. Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji and Piñata are some of the shining stars so far,” Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl told The Produce News. “There are lots of promotions and good sales at retail.”

A record cold snap in China along with a reduction in acreage will have ginger in short supply with higher prices, according to a leading importer of the product.

Unlike garlic, there are no official statistics kept on the planting area and yield of China's ginger crop, so the total yield is hard to estimate, according to Jim Provost, president of I Love Produce in Kelton, PA.

TRENTON, NJ — The second annual New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show is scheduled to take place Feb. 5-7 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ.

The two groups — the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey — held their annual gatherings concurrently for the first time in 2012, garnering a strong response.