The 2015 Vidalia onion crop is shaping up to be “normal,” which is welcomed news on the heels of three topsy-turvy seasons that saw wild fluctuations in volume and markets. That means retailers can plan with confidence for ample supply and excellent quality coming out of the region through August.

“We would take a normal year and be thankful for it,” said Delbert Bland, owner of Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA.

Bland started harvesting the week of April 6, shipped its first onions April 10, “and we’ve shipped very heavy since then,” Bland said.

Farm Fresh Produce Inc. has increased its Napa cabbage production this spring to 80 acres, according Steven Ceccarelli, owner of the company.

This is continues an upward trend on North Carolina Napa production for the firm, which is based in Faison, NC.

On April 21, Ceccarelli said the Napa harvest would begin May 7 and run until the first week of June.

“We’ve been dodging big rains and so far, so good,” he said. “The fields are nice, lively and well.”

Everything about the Nickey Gregory Co. is Georgia-grown, right down to the founder.

Nickey Gregory has worked on the Atlanta State Farmers Market since he was a kid. In 2000, he launched his company there to source, sell and ship produce throughout the Southeast.

That venture has been a rousing success. The company now has a second warehouse in Miami, FL, and a dedicated tomato repack operation in College Park, GA. Its private label, “Cheryl’s Best,” is thriving.

Northampton Growers is making a few customers even happier than ever with the implantation of the RPC containers. Calvert Cullen, co-owner of Northampton Growers said, “We are packing some cabbage in RPCs this season along with our normal cardboard containers for customers that are now requiring their produce be in the returnable container.”

Other than that, the company is keeping things status quo.

What looked like a promising crop for G&R Farms in Glennville, GA, has delivered and the company is ready with ample quantities of top-quality Vidalia onions

“The crop looks good, we’ve gotten a pretty good stand, maybe 90 percent, about what we’re looking for,” said G&R’s Kelby Werner. “We’ve had years that have been better. All in all, driving around and looking at other people’s crops as well, everybody’s looking pretty good.”

The asparagus season started early for Snow & Sons Produce Co. “We received our first asparagus on March 23, five days earlier than the earliest start in 30 years,” President Steve Thomas told The Produce News. “Since getting started, we have had cooler weather and have had very light production. We are looking for increased production as the weather warms up and may see our peak as early as the week leading up to May 1.”

The company is located in Outlook, WA. Thomas said he expects a volume increase in 2015 with new production acreage being cut.