The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated the Florida citrus crop would increase about 5 percent to 154 million boxes during the 2012-13 season.

The forecast is the USDA’s first of the season; it is revised monthly until the end of the season in July.

Frieda's Inc. will have an exciting new product for fall: the Stokes Purple sweet potato, which is grown in Livingston, CA, by A.V. Thomas Produce. Frieda's is now the exclusive distributor and marketer of the Stokes Purple. The sweet potato makes its official debut to the industry at Frieda's booth No. 3030 at the 2012 PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, CA.

Chelan Fruit Cooperative, located in Chelan, WA, announced the acquisition of the Orondo Fruit Co. packing plant in Orondo, WA, from the Griggs and Clennon families.

Cutler, CA-based Wileman Bros. & Elliot Inc., a grower-packer-shipper of California citrus, welcomed DAN GARCIA on July 2 as its senior sales account manager.

Mr. Garcia brings with him 20 years of experience in the produce industry, most recently working for Dinuba, CA-based Fruit Patch Sales LLC for the past 10 years. His primary focus at Wileman Bros. & Elliot will be to distinguish and develop new business.

Heading into its sixth full citrus season, Lone Star Citrus in Mission, TX, has plenty to celebrate. In short order the company has become one of the state’s top providers of citrus. The company recently inked a deal to be the exclusive provider of Texas grapefruit for Sunkist. And this season, Lone Star will mark a major milestone when it harvests the first fruit from the first trees planted in its own groves five-and-a-half years ago.

The latter is a particular source of pride for the company.

The last 12 months have been remarkable for Nash Produce of Nashville, NC, one of the larger sweet potato distributors in the United States. The company improved traceability, added new bagging and packing capabilities, and Director of Marketing Laura Kornegay was selected as one of 36 participants in the PMA Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Program.