Deardorff Family Farms, based in Oxnard, CA, has joined forces with a well-known Salinas, CA, grower to expand the firm’s organic celery and leaf lettuce program.

“This gives us a year-round supply of organic vegetables in those categories,” said Tom Deardorff II, president of the firm.

Backyard Farms, a Maine-based grower of vine-ripened tomatoes, has named Chuck Green as its new president and chief executive officer. The appointment was effective June 15.

In the press release, Mr. Green stated that he “looks forward to providing customers with high-quality products,” and is “excited to lead this growing company.”

Dulcinea Farms, a California-based melon and specialty tomato producer, announced three changes to its senior management team. As of July 1, John McGuigan is the new general manager, Monique McLaws is in charge of product development and Tessa Sarrazin is the new director of operations.

As general manager, Mr. McGuigan, Dulcinea’s vice president of sales and marketing since 2008, will oversee all company operations and develop strategic direction. Additionally, Mr. McGuigan will continue his sales and marketing duties.

Stemilt Growers is taking Rainier cherries to an even higher level with a new, state-of-the-art optical sizer and in-line cluster cutter. The new equipment allows Stemilt to size large-sized Rainiers with precision in order to deliver a premium pack to the marketplace.

According to Stemilt’s marketing director, Roger Pepperl, optical sizing has been used on apples for many years, but is especially beneficial to Rainiers, a delicate cherry variety that must be handled gently at every step in the packing process.

Stemilt founder Tom Mathison was honored posthumously by the Washington Agriculture & Forestry Education Foundation, more commonly known as Ag Forestry, with the 2011 Stu Bledsoe Leadership Award.

Stu Bledsoe was a well-known agriculture leader and served as the executive director of the Washington Forest Protection Association from 1978 to 1988.

Santa Maria, CA-based Bonipak, one of the larger produce companies on California’s Central Coast, has launched a new web site to reflect its “Seed to Sale” philosophy of marketing its product.