With demand for fresh figs on the increase and existing production levels not keeping pace, Western Fresh Marketing in Madera, CA, has new fig orchards planted, some of which will be in production this year.

“We have 40 acres in the [California] desert that will be coming into commercial production this year,” said George Kragie, president of Western Fresh. “We have an additional 40 acres in Chowchilla that should see a limited but commercial production by the end of the season.”

With young acreage coming into production, demand strong and good crops on the trees, there is an on-tree potential for an increase in fresh shipments of California figs for 2013 — but it is a potential unlikely to be realized because several other factors influence the amount of fruit that gets shipped fresh.

With temperatures in the mid- to high 80s, good irrigation and a knowledgeable grower base, Walla Walla Sweets from Sweet Clover Produce have been “growing like gangbusters” and could even ship a bit early this season.

Bill (Sweet Willie) Brownfield, sales manager for the Walla Walla, WA-based Sweet Clover operation, said that his shipments of the official Washington state vegetable could begin mid-June.

Market Fresh Produce announced the addition of Katie Wallace to its business development team, reporting to Steve Ford, director of business development.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods is expanding its marketing department with the addition of Elena Hernandez, who joins the company as the new marketing manager. In this newly created position, Ms. Hernandez will help execute the annual marketing plan and support both trade and consumer marketing efforts.

North Carolina blueberries should be hitting supermarket shelves in good volumes as summer approaches.