Maurice A. Auerbach moved to its new state-of-the-art facility in Secaucus, NJ, last fall. Bruce Klein, director of marketing for the company, told The Produce News that the 60,000-square-foot facility has 45,000 square feet of refrigeration and an unbroken cold chain. The construction also offers enhanced sustainability.

Okray Family Farms Inc., located in Plover, WI, expects its potato volume to increase 10 percent this season when compared to 2011. The company has approximately 1,800 acres in potato production. “We grow principally Norkotah and Silverton russets, Red Norlands and Jelly and Augustas for yellows,” Corporate Secretary Richard Okray told The Produce News Aug. 20. “Okray Family Farms provides category management and replenishment to the retail sector. Very little of our product is used for foodservice or wholesale.”

The University of Wisconsin-Madison provided a snapshot of the state's potato production in its Vegetable Crop Update issued Aug. 16. "Harvest season has begun for many growers harvesting chipping and processing potatoes, and of course fresh potatoes of all types direct to the processing plants or packingsheds," wrote Professor A.J. Bussan of the Department of Horticulture. "Yields appear to be quite good across the state. But there are some quality issues that have begun to raise concerns. Determinate crops, including Norkotah, are beginning to mature.

DANNY GOFORTH joined Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing as a sales executive for its customer solutions/sales team.

Mr. Goforth is also a graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, where he earned a degree in agricultural business. He previously worked as a sales and business development manager for Salinas, CA-based Colorful Harvest.

Known as a year-round supplier of premium-quality fresh sweet corn, Prima Bella Produce has been shipping under the popular “GloriAnn” label for over a decade. Now, GloriAnn is also the name of the company.

Although the name has changed, everything else will remain the same: the company will have the same location and staff as well as the high-quality produce and service its customers have come to expect. The name change is the latest step in the company's continuing growth and development.

A recent hail storm in Washington will take a bite out of apple volume for Sage Fruit Co., headquartered in Yakima, WA. But the impact of storm damage will be tempered by increased apple production and tonnage this season.