Conditions are ripe for good watermelon movement for the family-owned Jackson Farming Co. “We started the crown cut on seedless watermelons at the Sarasota, FL, farm on Tuesday, May 14. [We] look to have a week of two to three loads a day on seedless and should get into volume around Thursday or Friday, May 23-24,” said Vice President of Operations/Supply Chain Matt Solana.

NASCAR truck series driver Ross Chastain has earned an upgrade after having an excellent rookie campaign driving the National Watermelon Association- and National Watermelon Promotion Board-sponsored “Watermelon Truck” in the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Season.

Charles (Gil) Henry, who has long been associated with innovations allowing for the sale of ripe avocados, died on May 18 after losing a battle with lymphoma.

Mr. Henry is largely responsible for facilitating the huge growth in avocado demand at retail by marketing pre-ripened fruit and urging retailers to carry it.

All farms that grow fresh produce despite the size of the operation or the commodity will have to certify they meet Good Agricultural Practices by September as a condition to sell to Wegmans Food Markets Inc., company representatives who shared the retailer's program for small growers said during a May 29 webinar.

In contrast to last year, weather conditions for the 2013 stone fruit growing season in California's San Joaquin Valley have been generally very good, resulting in white flesh peach and nectarine crops that have a much improved outlook over 2012.

The warm spring in the San Joaquin Valley of California has moved the expected start date of California pears up 11 full days.

The 2012 California Bartlett pear crop started harvest on July 16. This year, Bartletts will begin harvest on July 5, with significant loading by July 9, according to Dave Parker of Rivermaid Trading Co.

Rivermaid is a leading pear producer in California with significant acreage in both the River and Lake districts. This will be the earliest Rivermaid has begun harvest in several years. In 2011, the pear season began as late as July 22.