It will be welcome news to many retailers and other buyers that fresh grapes from California, which have been running light and late since the start of the season, should finally be coming on strong, in excellent quality and promotable volumes, from late August well into fall. That is the anticipation of most of the shippers The Produce News talked to in early August.

Besides being late due to a cool spring and early summer, some early-season varieties such as Flames have

WEATHER

Daytime temperatures in Salinas, CA, were in the mid 70s leading up to Aug. 18 then were expected to ease into the mid- to upper 60s through Aug. 23. Overnight lows will hover in the mid 50s. Patchy morning fog and sunny afternoons will persist into late August.

In Mendota, CA, daytime temperatures were expected to be in the mid- to upper 90s through Aug. 23 with overnight lows in the low 60s.

DEMAND

Kingston & Associates Marketing LLC, a distributor and marketer of fresh produce products based in Idaho Falls, ID, announced Aug. 17 that Ken Nabal has been named president. Mike Kingston, who had long served in that position, will remain at the company to help with the transition and oversee key account relationships.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas is putting the final touches on its 43rd annual produce convention and golf tournament, which is scheduled to be held Nov. 3-5 in Nogales, AZ, home to the largest

Stemilt Growers, based in Wenatchee, WA, has begun to pack fresh cherries in a new, high-altitude box. The special pack type is used only when the company begins harvesting its high-elevation cherries, as it helps differentiate the company's premium late cherry program in the marketplace.

According to Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl, the idea for the high-altitude box is nothing new.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Peru released information earlier this summer stating that the country’s fresh-onion exports totaled $6.6 million from January through May 2011. According to government officials, this represents an increase of 64 percent over the same period in 2010.

The total fresh-onion volume was 34,300 tons during the reporting period. This represents a volume increase