Coastline Produce believes its lettuce variety that is a cross between Butter lettuce and Romaine hearts can create a bigger ring at retail and help transition consumers to higher-margin items.

There was a time when the vegetable-producing arm of A. Duda & Sons Inc. Inc., flexed its muscles and expanded its product lines.

KINGSBURG, CA — The California stone fruit industry has seen considerable consolidation and attrition in recent years, and according to Bob Maxwell, sales manager at Kingsburg Orchards, here, it has left the industry stronger.

REEDLEY, CA — Twenty years ago, only 5 percent of the peaches and nectarines grown in California were white-flesh varieties, noted Don Goforth, marketing director for Family Tree Farms Marketing LLC, here. “Today, 25 percent of our industry is now white flesh.”

HANDFORD, CA — By design, the Flavor Tree Fruit Co. LLC, here, starts its peach and nectarine program later in the season than some other shippers. That is because the company is so heavily involved in cherries during the early season, according to Maurice Cameron, managing partner.

McALLEN, TX — Texas growers lost about 3,000 acres of watermelon this spring to periodic hailstorms that battered the state across all growing areas, including the southernmost Rio Grande Valley, where hail is an uncommon occurrence. Meanwhile, Mexican watermelon production is down — another victim of escalating drug cartel violence, according to some — opening doors for Texas grower-shippers with strong domestic programs but impacting others who import from south of the border.