Gills Onions, a California-based market leader in fresh-cut onions, announces the launch of two new prepared onion products, Caramelized Red Onions and Grilled Yellow Onions, available in eight-ounce jars.

A longtime San Joaquin Valley grower-shipper is one of the many farms that is featured in a new Northern California Safeway campaign highlighting its ties to local farmers.

The roots of Modesto, CA-based Ratto Bros. date back to the turn of the last century when Antonio Ratto began farming on Bay Farm Island near Oakland, CA, in about 1905. His kids continued the operation and today the company is run by four grandsons of the founder.

Giumarra Borquez, the Giumarra Cos.’ vertically integrated asparagus partnership, is projecting excellent volume for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

Whether it’s her family, friends, clients or customers, Monica Robles of Gourmet Trading Co., a Los Angeles-based grower and distributor of fresh green, white and purple asparagus, blueberries and SuperBlues, always puts people first.

“In this industry, and especially with asparagus being scarce for the most part of the year, it is essential to have a good relationship with the growers,” Robles told The Produce News.

Delhi, LA-based Dawson Farms LLC is now producing the Orleans, a sweet potato variety that has a slightly redder skin than the similar Beauregard variety.

The Orleans is not stringy and is so sweet that sugar caramelizes on potatoes that have been baked, with one puncture at their top, said sales manager and family-farm member Eva Dawson.

The quality of the sweet potato crop at Dawson Farms is “fantastic, which is a blessing, but it’s a tad bit late,” Dawson noted.

Kirk Wilson, the newly appointed regional sales manager for Country Fresh Mushroom Co. headquartered in Toughkenamon, PA, said the company has continued its efforts to provide its partners with the freshest product and innovative packaging.

“Whether it is our soon-to-be unveiled environmentally friendly packaging, or our convenient ‘Personal Portion Portabella,’ we encourage all visitors to the PMA [Produce Marketing Association] Fresh Summit to look for these and other exciting items at the Country Fresh booth, number 1607,” Wilson said.