Pleasant Valley Potato Inc., headquartered in Aberdeen, ID, has been in the potato business for 50 years. Chet Wahlen founded the company, and today the family-operated business continues to thrive. “We feel we’ve brought the old-fashioned virtues of farming to the new technology of packaging and shipping, joining the best work of man with the best work of Mother Nature,” the company’s web site states.

Wilcox Fresh has embraced its historic roots as a premier grower-shipper of quality potatoes and onions with the introduction of its “Mother Earth Fresh” label. Jim Richter, executive vice president of sales and marketing, said that this represents a new and exciting direction for the company, which had been allied with the “Birds Eye Fresh” label since 1999.

Branding programs provided to retail customers by Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC have been structured to meet today’s diverse market requirements. “We believe in offering both our customers and their consumers a variety of labels to meet whatever their need-preference may be,” Marketing Manager Chris Wada told The Produce News Nov. 26.

Scott Nesbit, sales manager for Wahluke Produce Inc. in Mattawa, WA, said that this season’s potato crop is a winner. “Growing conditions were ideal for growing potatoes this year,” he told The Produce News Nov. 25.

“We did not get the real hot weather that we usually get each summer. Quality is excellent this year. The overall size profile is not real big, [but] just a nice middle size in the profile this season.”

According to Mr. Nesbit, spuds were moving well. “Demand has been real steady for Thanksgiving, and we hope it continues for Christmas,” he said.

Retailers can get help from Curry & Co. to drive onion sales. The company is headquartered in Brooks, OR, and is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier grower-shippers. It offers assistance to its customers to maximize their sales.

Bland Farms LLC, headquartered in Glennville, GA, began shipments of its latest sweet onion offering, the trademarked “EverMild,” this past October. Managing Member Delbert Bland said that the onion is being marketed as a joint venture with River Point Farms in Hermiston, OR. Although limited volume was available to select retailers last season, Mr. Bland said that the company expects to move approximately 4,000 40-pound-equivalent boxes by the time the season concludes in March.