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Since its launch in 2012, the "SUNSET" Angel Sweet tomato has become one of Mastronardi Produce's fastest-growing tomato brands to date. From 2012-13 alone, Angel Sweet sales skyrocketed.

“Growing in the Imperial Valley provides us with the benefits of producing consistently high quality and yields,” said Lindsey Roberts, marketing and communications director for Lakeside Organic Gardens in Watsonville, CA. “Demand always outweighs production.”

Over the past five years, The Nunes Co. Inc. in Salinas, CA, has been methodically building its “Foxy Organic” brand, adding commodities and acreage to the mix each season.

“We have now reached the point where we can offer our customers our entire line-up of items both conventionally and under our organic label,” said Matt Seeley, vice president of marketing. “And we can do that 24/7, 365 days of the year.”

Keeping pace with increasing consumer demand for fresh snacking options, Ready Pac Foods Inc., based in Irwindale, CA, is optimizing its Ready Snax line with a new flavor variety and improved packaging presentation and efficiency, aimed to further deliver on key consumer needs: freshness, healthfulness, convenience, portability and great taste.

In early December, the San Joaquin Valley citrus industry was hit with seven consecutive nights of subfreezing temperatures. The event may have concluded in mid-December, but the industry's battle against Mother Nature continued through early January.