Homegrown Organics LLC in Porterville, CA, which had its first year of production in Mandarins in the 2011-12 season and increased volume the following year, will have similar acreage in production this year to what it had in 2012-13. “But we have on the docket some good increases penciled in for the following year” and the year after, said President Scott Mabs.

Importers from both coasts say that the price of ginger, especially Chinese ginger, has risen to unprecedented levels and there is no relief in sight.

Jim Provost, president of I Love Produce in Kelton, PA, calls himself one of the larger year-round importers of ginger into the continental United States. He sources Chinese ginger year-round but also pulls from South America and Central America from July through December, and Hawaii and Thailand in the January-to-July time frame.

"Basically ginger is a two-hemisphere crop and contra seasonal," he said.

Awe Sum Organics, a leading importer of organic apples, kiwifruit, pears and blueberries, announced the opening of its renovated headquarters in downtown Santa Cruz, CA, that has been LEED certified.

The new headquarters consist of a 5,200-square-foot building originally built in 1969 located in a prime area of downtown Santa Cruz. Once a dark and dated gallery, drywall that covered most of the windows was removed and skylights were widened to let in more natural light. Top-of-the-line energy-rated HVAC and LED lighting illuminates the new office.

J&K Fresh and its East Coast affiliate, J&K Fresh East, announced the launch of Freshlook, its new and innovative web-based track and trace technology.

Designed specifically for the importation of perishable cargo, Freshlook emphasizes the importance of visibility, statistical reporting and trade document compliance management.

The new American Pistachiomobile will be cruising Fresno and Clovis the weekend of Nov. 2-3 with stops at the Two Cities Marathon Fitness Expo in downtown Fresno before the Fresno State-Nevada football game, and finally at the Two Cities Marathon & Half at Woodward Park.

California Rep. David Valadao will serve as the keynote speaker at the California Citrus Mutual annual meeting Nov. 7 at the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, CA.

The first-term Congressman is expected to talk about his perspectives on the inner-workings of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Also at the meeting, newly elected board Chairman Kevin Severns will offer his perspective on the organization's agenda for the coming year and install the 2013-14 board of directors.