A month ago, Delbert Bland of Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, wondered if what was looking like an excellent Vidalia onion crop would find a hospitable market when it arrived in mid-April. With a winter glut of sweet onions and more on the way from Mexico and Texas, Bland had no idea how the market would shake out.

But Mexico’s quality has been “spotty” and the Texas deal, which is late coming off, shows similar inconsistencies, said Bland, who grows in all three areas as well as Peru.

To maximize quality and shelf life, Market Fresh Produce, LLC, is expediting its operation to move its Vidalia onions from field to fork, according to Tyler Phipps.

Market Fresh has its business office in Nixa, MO. Phipps is the general manager of the firm’s Monett operation, which opened in November.

In mid-March, Gourmet Trading Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, was continuing its movement of both organic and conventional blueberries from Chile.

Chloé Varennes, marketing manager for the fwwirm, said that both quality and rotation of the Chilean blueberries has been excellent this season. The items run from November through March.

The California Fresh Fruit Association kicked off its new fiscal year during its 79th annual meeting in Del Mar, CA. The event featured the election of the board of directors and chairman, as well as industry and committee updates.

The board of directors is made up of 47 men and women from operations located from as far south as Coachella Valley with fresh table grape vineyards to as far north as Lake County with pear production.

Nature Fresh Farms will be unveiling its “Sesame Street” packaging to the Canadian marketplace at the CPMA Convention & Trade Show on April 15-17 in Montreal.

The packaging line includes “Cookie Monster” theme pre-printed pepper bags and an arrangement of custom themed packaging that includes “Big Bird,” “Elmo,” “Grover,” “Bert & Ernie” and “Oscar the Grouch.”

Chris Veillon, director of marketing for the Leamington, Ontario-based company, a leading greenhouse producer of fresh vegetables, said the company would be exhibiting at Booth No. 623 at the event.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ “Dandy” brand “Simple Salad in Seconds” is a flavorful variety of petite Salanova lettuce variety heads that deliver three times more leaves than any other lettuce.

Nichole Towell, director of marketing for the Oviedo, FL-based company, a leading producer, packer and shipper of high-quality produce, said that “Simple Salad in Seconds” offer consumers many benefits.