Cherie C. Watte, executive director of the California Asparagus Commission, is the new chair at CA GROWN, a partnership between the California Department of Food & Agriculture and commodity groups representing the state’s agriculture industry. Watte follows former chair Kasey Cronquist, chief executive officer and ambassador for the California fresh-cut flower industry, who guided CA GROWN through a newly revamped promotions program and membership expansion.

"We convened on a conference call with our members across the state on July 25," Julia Stewart, spokesperson for the New York Apple Association headquartered in Fishers, NY, told The Produce News. They forecasted then that crop would be 30 million bushels, just slightly above our average of 29.5 million but not as high as our 2013 crop which was estimated at 32 million."

Stewart added that this season's crop could get even larger as the apples tend to get bigger when the weather is as great as New York's has been throughout this growing season.

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. will be hosting the “Fresh Fan Fuel” social media promotion to encourage healthy and fresh choices for fall games and tailgates. The promotion will give Del Monte fans the opportunity to win one of eight tailgating prize packages, just in time for football season.

To facilitate growth and expansion in the blueberry market, California Giant Berry Farms has promoted Nader Musleh to executive director-blueberry division.

Musleh will take on full responsibility for the profitability of the company-wide blueberry and non-strawberry division, working with senior management to develop the strategy and vision necessary to grow the business both domestically and internationally.   

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Sbrocco International Inc. was a sponsor of the just-completed 2014 JCC Maccabi Games in the Cherry Hill, NJ, host community.

"It's always been important to Sbrocco to give back to our local community, and the Maccabi Games are especially rewarding since we share a common mission to encourage the health and well-being of our youth," Christina Regan, marketing manager of Sbrocco International, said in a press release.

This summer, 22 members of the Overgaag family trekked to the Netherlands to visit their ancestral home where a couple of well-known California grower-shippers can trace their beginnings.