SWEDESBORO, NJ — The third harvest of peppers, pickles and cucumbers — three major items at Sun Valley Orchards — was expected to be ready around the first week in September, according to Joe Marino, one of the owners of the company, located here in southern New Jersey.

That would represent fairly normal timing, a change in New Jersey where a mild winter and spring led to early harvests of most produce items as the season progressed.

The staff at Bushmans’ Inc. is ready to move a quality crop of Wisconsin potatoes to its customers in the eastern United States. Bushmans’ has farmed potatoes for the past century.

Chelan Fresh Marketing, based in Chelan, WA, hired JACK SULLIVAN as its assistant production manager and purchasing agent. His responsibilities include coordinating packinglines based on customer needs and packinghouse supply.

Prior to joining Chelan Fresh, Mr. Sullivan worked at Brewster, WA-based Gebbers Farms. He has been in the produce industry for five years.

WASHINGTON — Specialty crop producers joined a campaign-style rally near Congress, Sept. 12, trying to ratchet up the pressure on lawmakers to vote for a five-year farm bill slated to expire Sept. 30.

The discovery of a foodborne illness issue potentially related to a Mexican mango brand in the United States and Canada in late August resulted in quick action by the importer as well as the National Mango Board, which many are crediting with minimizing the effect of the issue and allowing the industry to move forward without devastating results.

WASHINGTON — Produce representatives are coming to Washington next month at a key time to lobby for a five-year farm bill, and the best bet for a new farm policy may come during a lame-duck session, said Randy Russell, founding partner of The Russell Group and legislative counsel for United Fresh Produce Association, during a Sept. 12 webinar.