Rainier Fruit Co. in Yakima, WA, is providing retailers with the product and support necessary to stabilize dollar sales during deflationary periods. “Gala, Fuji and Granny are the new mainline variety sales in the domestic apple category,” said Director of Marketing Suzanne Wolter. “Additionally, newer apple varieties are the rock stars in the category having a significant impact stabilizing dollar sales in a deflationary period.

Product movement for Chelan Fresh Marketing, which represents more than 419 growers from its base of operations in Chelan, WA, is in full swing. “We’re selling everything right now,” said Director of Marketing Mac Riggin.

Apple and pear volume have been good, and Riggin said quality is excellent. By the end of October, Chelan Fresh had moved 12 percent of the overall crops. “The Bartlett deal has gone very well,” he noted.

Chelan Fresh moves product both domestically and to export markets. By the end of October, 26 percent of product movement was to offshore customers.

Kid Chef Eliana de Las Casas, a 13-year-old culinary prodigy, is a Taste Award honoree, a recipient of an award for Special Achievement in the Outstanding Kids category for her role as host of “Cool Kids Cook,” her weekly Web radio show on the VoiceAmerica Kids network.

Workers at Gerawan Farming Inc. in Reedley, CA, were finally given the chance to decertify the United Farm Workers as their contract bargaining agent in a potentially landmark election held Tuesday, Nov. 5.

It may well be weeks before the results of the election are known, but the outcome could have huge significance.

Beachside Produce LLC is preparing for a successful holiday season in 2013 by adding celery sticks and hearts to its lineup this fall.

Celery sticks are available in a variety of convenient pack options, and celery hearts and a new 8x3 full stalk will be offered as well.

With the 2013 California date harvest nearly complete for Medjool dates and in full swing for Deglets, “we are going into our peak shipping season,” said Albert Keck, president of Hadley Date Gardens Inc. in Thermal, CA, in an interview with The Produce News Oct. 17. “We are shipping briskly,” and so far, the product was moving out as fast as it was coming in.