Monte Vista, CO — Expecting to ship 2014 storage russets well into 2015’s summer, Monte Vista Potato Growers is looking to plant its 2015 crop during May, according to General Manager Jason Tillman.

Tillman said on April 13 that the grower cooperative association was on schedule to finish its spuds in mid-July and start shipping new crop in mid-October. Planting will be done in May, as the likelihood of Rocky Mountain wintry weather diminishes, and Tillman said the cooperative’s growers are looking at a normal crop with no big changes.

Martori Farms announced its exclusive Kandy Lemondrop Melon will begin shipping June 1. This year marks the third season the Arizona-based grower and shipper of premium melons will distribute the specialty Lemondrop variety.

An expected decrease in April Mexican watermelon availability will be reflected in relatively conservative prices for April retailer ads, according to Jorge Quintero Jr., the managing partner of Grower Alliance LLC, based in Rio Rico, AZ.

In early April, Quintero indicated that watermelon ads are normally in the range of 16 cents to 18 cents a pound. But promotions in April were going to be more in the range of 22 cents to 24 cents a pound because of lingering production problems that are expected to reduce early-season availability.

Robinson Fresh has developed a formula for success when it comes to distribution of watermelons. “Robinson Fresh sources melons grown throughout North, Central, and South America as well as Europe, making this a truly global category for the company as we strive toward global year-round production on all continents,” Category General Manager Josh Knox told The Produce News.

Change at Nardella Inc., located at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, is done with patient intent. The company, which occupies units G-4 through G-6 in the blue section of the facility, has 32 years of successful business history.

John Durante, president of Nardella told The Produce News that business is solid because the company recognizes its strengths.

PATERSON, NJ — The April dinner meeting of the Eastern Produce Council has long been noted for two key components: new leadership is announced, and it is hosted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Those two components were in full force at the EPC dinner meeting held Tuesday evening, April 21, here at The Brownstone.