Pegi Adam, director of communications for the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council, told The Produce News that the council has produced two videos for retailers to use in their closed loop televisions -- one meant for produce professionals and the other for consumers.

COMMERCE CITY, CO — Excitement was building in mid-June for the first loads of Colorado’s famed Olathe-area sweet corn, on schedule to start shipping early to mid-July from the state’s Western Slope.

Joshua Johnson, president of Ringer & Son Brokerage and the “go-to guy” for sister company Mountain Fresh’s sweet corn, said this year’s crop was expected to be very good — and non-GMO.

Last July, the Colorado Department of Agriculture released its publication, Colorado Agricultural Statistics 2012.

“The New Jersey peach crop is expected to have a normal start this year,” Bob Von Rohr, director of customer relations for Sunny Valley International headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, told The Produce News in mid-June. “The winter chill and good moisture has combined to help ensure a nice crop this coming season.”

Von Rohr noted the peach trees had an outstanding bloom by around April 18, and with a full crop set, stressing that Sunny Valley is expecting a good crop that is on track for its normal seasonal movement start during the week of July 7.

“I am totally optimistic about this season’s New Jersey peach and nectarine programs,” Jeff Danner, general manager of Eastern Propak LLC in Glassboro, NJ, told The Produce News on June 20. “I now work with three New Jersey peach and nectarine growers — Summit City Farms in Glassboro, which is our largest supplier; Heilig Orchards in Richwood; and Gala Orchards in Elmer. I met with all of them in the past week, and they are all reporting a very full crop.”

In June, Keenes, IL-based Frey Farms introduced a new, high-end bottled watermelon juice branded "Tsamma" (pronounced s-amm-a). The juice is manufactured in Lakeland, FL, 30 minutes from Frey's largest watermelon farm.