After extreme weather events knocked out most of Michigan’s 2012 apple crop, the state's apple growers are looking forward to a busy harvest season in 2013.

“Our growers are feeling very positive about the 2013 crop,” Michigan Apple Committee Executive Director Diane Smith said in a press release. “We had one frost earlier this month, but most of the orchards came through that with little or no damage. There were a lot of blossoms on the trees, and we are hoping Mother Nature smiles on us this summer.”

Bakersfield, CA-based Sun World International LLC announced the promotions of several employees and other staff adjustments.

If any company has a secret weapon in its cherry promotion arsenal, it is probably Stemilt Growers LLC in Wenatchee, WA.

Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl said Kyle Mathison, vice president of research and development, has dedicated himself to applying the science needed to produce the region’s finest cherries. “Kyle is my hero,” Pepperl said.

An unusual spring weather pattern has led to a challenging season so far for R&R Flaim Next Generation Produce, based in Vineland, NJ. But things are starting to even out and the firm expects to have a strong season the rest of the way.

Ryan Flaim, a fourth-generation member of the family that grows and markets a full line of vegetables produced in the Garden State, said the spring season was delayed by about 20 days across the board.

There has long been research — both anecdotal and data-based — suggesting a positive link between the eating of fruits and vegetables and healthy outcomes, including disease prevention.

The Food & Drug Administration has launched an investigation into Fairview, OR-based Townsend Farms after a rarely-seen strain of hepatitis A has caused 30 illnesses and preliminary epidemiological studies are pointing the finger at the Townsend Farms Organic Anti-oxidant Blend frozen berry mix.

As of May 31, 30 people in five western states have become ill with hepatitis A, and 11 of the 17 people interviewed by health officials reported eating the frozen berry and pomegranate seed mix purchased from Costco, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.