A baker’s dozen agribusinesses in North Carolina are the 2012 beneficiaries of the North Carolina Value-Added Cost Share program, which has doled out more than $1 million since 2009 and will award $269,883 in this, its final year.

Funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, NCVACS provides an agricultural producer or processor with up to $50,000 to purchase new or used specialized equipment to start or grow a value-added operation. NCVACS is coordinated by North Carolina MarketReady, a program of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

With a lot of talk going around about hail damage to California stone fruit, and particularly to apricots in some areas, David Stone, president and chief executive officer of Valhalla Sales & Marketing Inc. in Kingsburg, CA, feels very fortunate.

The company’s primary crops are, in order of the largest volume, apricots, plums, Pluots and fresh prunes, followed by smaller amounts of peaches and nectarines.

Thanks to a new databar technology, consumers will be able to view a grower video on 16 different apples supplied by Chelan Fresh by scanning the sticker on the apple. The video connects the consumer, regardless of geography, directly to the apple orchards of Chelan, WA.  

Mike Locati, chairman of the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee, said he expects this year's onion volume to be on par with the 2011 production season. “We’re pretty much on target,” he told The Produce News May 8.

Walla Wallas are grown under U.S. Department of Agriculture Marketing Order 956. The protected growing area is situated in Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington and northeast Oregon. Walla Walla sweet onions are known for their low sulfur content, high water content and exceptionally sweet flavor.

FRESNO, CA — “With the combination of an early spring and above-average temperatures, we anticipate outstanding quality and production” for California figs for the 2012 season, Karla Stockli, chief executive officer of the California Fig Advisory Board and the California Fresh Fig Growers Association, said in a written statement to The Produce News May 10.

North American markets can expect to see a new kiwifruit offering from Zespri International this season.

"We have several new varieties that we are working on marketing globally," said Michele Hoard, senior marketing manager for Zespri North America, which is based in Minneapolis, MN. "Specifically, Zespri North America will see our new variety, SunGold, later this season."