“We are seeing tremendous growth” out of Nogales, said Luis Corella, who works in sales in the Nogales office of Fresno, CA-based Crown Jewels Produce Co., in an interview with The Produce News Nov. 16. “Basically, we are seeing an increase of anywhere between 30 and 40 percent” over last year “depending on the commodity

“We are working with new growers” in different growing regions of West Mexico, “and we are strategically located with them to where we are basically diversifying our risk” by having “two different growers per commodity in two different areas,” he said.

“We are well into our fall and winter watermelon season, and we are handling expanded acreage this season,” Gill Munguia, division manager for the Nogales, AZ, division of The Giumarra Cos., said Nov. 21. “We have also added mini watermelons or personal watermelons to the mix.”

The watermelons are being grown in Hermosillo and Guaymas in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The company was currently shipping out of Hermosillo but was “just getting ready to transfer from our northern farms in Hermosillo down to Guaymas,” where production would continue through the winter.

“Our overall program is similar to last year, as far as the products are concerned, but our acreage has increased just about across the board on everything that we grow, so we are building on the winter program,” said Mike Aiton, marketing manager for Prime Time Sales LLC, which is headquartered in Coachella, CA.

Like most distributors based in Nogales, AZ, Greenpoint Distributing Inc. is primarily involved with Mexico-grown produce. However, “we are going to have a brand new deal starting this year with a group of growers in the Dominican Republic,” said Rick Burkett, sales director, in an interview with The Produce News Nov. 20.

The Second Annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl game, of which the Idaho Potato Commission in Eagle, ID, is the title sponsor, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15 on the famous blue turf of Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium in Boise.

Twenty-fifth-ranked Utah State University, which was defeated in the first Famous Idaho Potato Bowl face-off in the final seconds of last year’s game by Ohio State after having led the entire game, will be back determined to emerge victorious this year.

Taking part in USA Onions/Weber grill products “Get Grillin’” football bowl season retail display contest, produce managers across the country have put in orders for custom logo-emblazoned black Weber Kettle grills as well as plenty of Spanish Sweets from the Idaho-Eastern Oregon’s onion-growing region.

Kicking off Dec. 15 and ending Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, the retail display contest provides produce departments the opportunity to increase their onion sales and win great prizes simultaneously.