Divided opinions about when the Vidalia onion season should officially begin — played out in Georgia courtrooms earlier this spring — have taken a backseat to more pressing matters, like the promising crop that most south Georgia growers started harvesting around Easter.

“Our Georgia crops began a bit later than normal this year,” Jimmy Myrick, vice president of Edward L. Myrick Produce in Andersonville, GA, told The Produce News April 18. “We will start on May 15 with squash and beans, but things may speed up a little depending on the weather. The crops, we’re happy to report, are all in good condition. Between April 15 and 20 is pretty normal for us, so we don’t expect to be very late.”

Georgia blueberry producers work 52 weeks a year to cultivate their crops and earn a solid reputation as one of the nation’s best purveyors of quality fruit. “Georgia is big enough that it’s grown out of the niche and is getting into a stabilized situation for return on investment,” said Joe Cornelius, chairman of the Georgia Blueberry Commission and owner of J&B Blueberry Farms Inc. in Manor, GA.

CERRITOS, CA — Nearly 300 Southern California produce professionals turned out April 23 for the Fresh Produce & Floral Council's membership luncheon, held at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel, here. The guest speaker for the event was Catherine Burns, president of the Produce Marketing Association.

{2jtoolbox gallery id:65}

As part of on-going efforts to encourage expanded California avocado consumption, the California Avocado Commission launched a new snacking campaign featuring dozens of avocado snack ideas. The program includes retail programs, public relations, social media, email and online communications.

For Stevco, which is based in Los Angeles, but has offices in the grape growing regions, selling both Mexican and Coachella Valley table grapes works very well for its customers.

“We have customers that want fruit out of California and we have others that are not as concerned about the country of origin,” said David Clyde, president of the firm.