An average winter season that provided the necessary “chilling hours,” combined with a normal spring and an abundance of cooperative honeybees, is pointing to a great 2013 blueberry harvest in the Garden State.

After success last season, Giumarra Wenatchee is expanding on its line of specialty packs for New Zealand Meyer lemons.  

“The growing season was exceptional in New Zealand," Jason Bushong, division manager of Giumarra Wenatchee, said in a press release. "A warm, dry climate has produced fruit with a well-balanced acid-to-Brix ratio. Late-season precipitation helped the fruit gain size, making it well suited for the preferences of U.S. consumers.

Ravenna, OH-based Sirna & Sons Produce recently welcomed ANTHONY SIRNA to its sales team.

As a fourth-generation family member, he is the grandson of current Sirna & Sons CEO Joe Sirna and the son of company President Tom Sirna.

Piazza Produce Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, broke ground on its new freezer there June 10. “This will add about three times the freezer space we currently have,” President Pete Piazza told The Produce News.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers will supply its customers with highly promotable volumes of conventional stone fruit from the Pacific Northwest this season. Based in Wenatchee, WA, the company is one of Washington’s premier tree fruit growers.

“The conditions have been good overall,” Marketing Director Scott Marboe told The Produce News.

Gourmet greenhouse grower Mastronardi Produce has once again taken top honors at the annual Hottest Tomato Competition. The company's "Sunset" Mini Kumato tomato was chosen as the People's Choice Award for Tomatoes for 2013.