New television ads from the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association for the 2012-13 marketing year are scheduled to run on national cable television, according to a written statement of the organization’s programs furnished to The Produce News July 30.

Bill Litvin, regional sales and national account manager for Giorgio Fresh Co., headquartered in Temple, PA, said that the company’s “D’Lightful” Portabella caps and Portabella sliced mushrooms provide 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D.

Representatives from To-Jo Fresh Mushrooms Inc., in Avondale, PA, enjoyed tremendous success at Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference & Exposition in Monterey, CA, in July.

Paul Frederic, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the company, told The Produce News that the response to its new Simply Sautee item was outstanding.

Green Tree International, headquartered in Visalia, CA, with a brokerage office in Wenatchee, WA, expects to begin marketing a quality crop of pears from the Pacific Northwest in mid-August. “Bartlett, Anjou and Bosc are the main varieties we sell,” said Brett Hull, sales associate. “But we sell all major varieties.” Bartletts will kick off the production season, with Anjous following several weeks later.

Rainier Fruit Co., headquartered in Yakima, WA, is poised to begin its pear season on an optimistic note. “Quality looks to be excellent, fruit is clean, and overall condition is very nice,” Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter told The Produce News July 27. “Generally speaking, the growing season has been much more conducive for producing a high-quality product.” To date, there have been no significant effects to the fruit caused by weather events.

The 2008 agreement between Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee, WA, and Diamond Fruit Growers in Odell, OR, continues strong, with Oneonta handling exclusive sales and marketing for the longtime Oregon pear and cherry grower-shipper.