Looking to bump up its overall summer production significantly this year, Sweet Clover Produce of Walla Walla, WA, began planting new-crop onions in the Northwest during the week of Feb. 17.

According to Sales Manager Bill (Sweet Willie) Brownfield, the company is still shipping 2013 storage single-center Red Wing reds from Quincy, WA, as well as sweet yellows and yellows. Brownfield said 2014 planting began about a week later than normal, and the famed Walla Walla Sweets, Washington’s State Vegetable, are expected to start shipping the second or third week of June.

A recent consumer shopper insight study conducted by the Hass Avocado Board, reported that product display, quality/ripeness and price are three key purchase motivators.

Food Lion announced its continued support of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament by sponsoring several events that have become favorites to CIAA fans. These events include the women’s tournament, Miss CIAA and “Food Lion Day at the CIAA” on Friday, Feb. 28. All events will be held Feb. 24 through March 1 in Charlotte, NC.

Despite the highly publicized winter weather extremes that occurred in Georgia this year, Curry & Co. is off to a good start with its Vidalia sweet carrot season. Growing conditions have been good for carrots and the 2014 season is expected to run from late February into June.

The National Mango Board will be hosting its second annual Mango Food Safety Conference Thursday, March 6 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Attendance to this annual conference is complimentary, and industry members of all levels of the mango supply chain are encouraged to join.

NOGALES, AZ — To illustrate the importance of Nogales as a port of entry for Mexican produce into the United States, Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, pointed to numbers.

The most remarkable of these numbers may be Jungmeyer’s own prediction for the growth of produce arriving into the United States: “Six to ten percent annual growth forever.”

This will be driven by Mexico’s extension of growing seasons and an increasing variety of produce being produced in the country.