As with most produce companies in Nogales, AZ — and in many other parts of the country and in other industries as well — the last couple of years have had their challenges for Thomas Produce Sales Inc. But with “a couple of challenging seasons under our belt here, I am hoping for a better one this year,” said Chuck Thomas, president of the firm.

“It looks like we are pick up some new business, so that is encouraging,” he said.

Utah Onions, Inc. of Syracuse, UT, and Gerrald’s Vidalia Sweets of Vidalia, GA, have finalized a strategic partnership that will bring Utah Onions to the table for the 2013 Vidalia onion season.

According to Utah Onions Director of Business Development Richard Pazderski, the partnership will allow the company to supply its retail and wholesale customers with “Vidalia Sweet” onions for the season starting this spring, shipping from mid-April well into July.

Bernardi & Associates Inc., which is headquartered in Nogales, AZ, and has branch offices in California, Texas and Florida, is a full-line broker in the Nogales tomato and vegetable deal.

“Our sales team stays the same for this year, and we are still moving the same kind of commodities” as in past seasons, said President Joe Bernardi. “We are heavy to tomatoes” but also handle “all of the bell peppers, cucumbers, squashes, melons and chilis.”

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 30 members to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board. Each member will serve a three-year term of office beginning March 1, 2013.

“Our customer base doesn’t vary much,” said Ryan Wahlen, sales manager at Pleasant Valley Potato Inc. in Aberdeen, ID. “We’ve got a really strong and loyal following and good customers — good, solid people.”

One reason for that, he explained, is they know they can count on Pleasant Valley for consistency in quality and supply of Russet Norkotah and Russet Burbank potatoes.

Al Harrison Co. Distributors in Nogales, AZ, which specializes in watermelons and hard shell squash, will be adding a new production area for winter watermelons in Mexico this season.

Beginning around December 10, the company will begin harvesting watermelons in the state of Nayarit in southern Mexico, according to President Brent Harrison. That should provide a steady supply of product for the company’s watermelon program through mid or late February.